Response of Pear Trees’ (Pyrus bretschneideri ‘Sinkiangensis’) Fine Roots to a Soil Water Regime of Regulated Deficit Irrigation

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on fine root redistribution mature pear trees in 2009 and 2010. The consisted four RDI treatments: MRDI-1 SRDI-1, which received replacing 60% 40% pan evaporation (Ep) during Stage 1 (cell division stage), MRDI-1+2 SRDI-1+2, Ep 1+2 slow shoot growth stage). All RDI-treated 80% (full irrigation) other stages, control were fully irrigated whole season. results showed that length density (RLD) reduced by water stress. resumption full boosted growth. RLD SRDI-1-treated zones recovered early July, they maintained nutrient absorption fruit enlargement stage, final yield significantly improved. with July September, respectively, but there no significant differences between MRDI-1, MRDI-1+2, control. This indicates not negatively or positively impacted moderate stress applied either 1+2.