Spatial distribution of roots in medium-textured soils in the case of cherry trees grafted on Gi Sel A5 rootstock

•An adjusted trench method with many sampling sections was used in a cherry orchard.•There was a high heterogeneity regarding root spatial distribution in orchard soil.•Root density decreased strongly with distance from trees and gradually with depth.•Planting scheme could be improved by reducing the distance between trees.•Wetting depth during water application can be done as a function of irrigation regime.

This paper deals with the spatial distribution of root density (RD) in the case of mature cherry trees with Skeena cultivar grafted on Gi Sel A5 rootstock. The classical trench method frequently performed in a right angle at various distances from trees cannot disclose the complex tree root distribution pattern in orchards, and a modified trench method was therefore used to determine RD in a drip irrigated orchard in medium-textured soils. Sampling sections were dug, and RD in inter-rows (ITR) as well as in-rows (IR) was determined. There was high heterogeneity on RD revealed by the significant differences between IR and ITR sections. A high RD occurred near the tree trunks, from where RD decreased strongly with distance from trees and gradually with depth. Based on RD distribution, the planting scheme could be improved by increasing the tree density in both IR and ITR. If a full irrigation regime with a management allowed deficit (MAD) of soil water content is preferred, a soil depth of 0.8–1.0 m would be sufficient for wetting; if deficit irrigation is used, soil depths of 0.5 m to 0.6 m could be recommended for wetting as well as different MAD values.