Growth of rose roots and shoots is highly sensitive to anaerobic or hypoxic regions of container substrates

Commercial greenhouse cut rose plants commonly have shallow root systems, even in well-drained substrates. We studied rose plant responses to a wide range of soil air-filled porosity values to determine tolerance to low soil aeration. ‘Kardinal’ rose plants on ‘Natal Briar’ rootstock were grown for 11 weeks in containers holding 2.5 l of Yolo loam soil. The soil had been treated with a polyacrylamide soil conditioner to stabilize aggregates after they had been separated into three size fractions: coarse (1–2 mm), medium (0.1–1 mm), and fine (<0.1 mm). Plants were irrigated frequently to keep the soil at container capacity. Total new root growth was greatest in the medium and coarse soil fractions, which had average air-filled porosities of 7.6% and 15.9%, respectively. The fine soil fraction, which had an average air-filled porosity of 1.3%, had almost no root growth. In all soil fractions, roots were absent or scarce in regions of soil that were anaerobic or hypoxic. Highest root length densities occurred at air-filled porosity values of 12–17%, and no new roots grew at air-filled porosity values below 3%. Shoot yields were lower for plants in the substrate with low air-filled porosity, and their leaves had lower stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, mid-day water potential, and macronutrient concentrations. Frequent irrigation that precludes aeration of the lower regions of the substrate profile will result in shallow root systems and could lead to decreased yields.