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CIRCULAR No. 303 DECEMBER} 1983 |), -y
JAX WEN
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGR CULTURE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION AS INDICATORS
OF APPLE PRODUCTION IN THE LAKE SHORE
DISTRICT OF WESTERN NEW YORK
By A. T. SWEET, associate soil scientist, Division of Soil Survey, Soil Investigations,
Bureau of Chemistry and Soils
CONTENTS
Page Page
i ROCULCHIO Ties oo pes as Se ee ] Group 1, soils with open subsoils_________- 12
Gita ye ee eG, Sen 2 Group 2, soils with tight subsoils__________ 13
Narietiesiofapplestreesi==- 22 = ne ee eee 4 Group 3, dark-colored poorly drained soils. 16
Drain acest ee eee ee Gp ee che eed Ee 5 | Soil profile and root penetration.______________ 18
Soilkenounp sess etna bee eer nes etecien Se Ae Pehle @ OT CUSTOMS} et ie tee ete ies bed eeu eee eee 29
INTRODUCTION
The principal apple-growing district of western New York is a belt
6 to 10 miles wide extending along the lake shore from Buffalo, on
Lake Erie, to Oswego, on Lake Ontario, a distance of about 125 miles.
Previous to 1919 this constituted the most important barreled-
apple district of the United States, but since that time there has been
a decline in its relative importance owing to heavy competition and
to decrease in production within the district.!
Decrease in production has been due to the age of many of the or-
chards, to periods of unfavorable weather, and to neglect during the
past few years because of low prices and adverse economic conditions.
As a result old orchards are dying out and are being cut down and few
new plantings are being made.
During the summer of 1931 a study was made to determine, if possi-
ble, to what extent decline in production might be owing to soil con-
ditions.” This study was confined to an area of about 22.5 square
miles surrounding the village of Hilton, in Monroe County.
During the summer of 1932, in connection with a detailed soil sur-
vey made by the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils cooperating with the
Department of Agronomy of Cornell University, this study was ex-
tended to cover the northern part of Monroe County from the ridge,
or old beach line, to Lake Ontario. It includes a considerable portion
of the best orchard soils, a large section in which the soils are of inter-
mediate grade, and extensive sections entirely unsuited for orchard
planting, thus offering opportunity for striking contrasts and com-
parisons.
1 FOLGER, J. C.,and THOMSON, S. M. THE COMMERCIAL APPLE INDUSTRY OF NORTH AMERICA. )p. 29-30.
New York. 1921.
2 SWEET, A. T., and OSKAMP, J. SOILS IN RELATION TO FRUIT GROWING IN NEW YORK. PARTI. A DE-
TAILED SOIL SURVEY OF THE HILTON AREA, MONROE COUNTY. N.Y. (Cornell) Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 541,
16 p., illus. 1932.
a USDA, National Agricultural Library
| NAL Bldg
10301 Baltimore Bivd
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
sadly.
2 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
These detailed studies have been supplemented by observations
and numerous field examinations of the soils throughout the apple-
growing sections of this lake-shore district, and in all these sections a
very definite relation was found to exist between the soil profile, the
depth of rooting, condition of the orchards, and apple production.
CLIMATE
The importance of the lake-shore district for apple growing, as for
the growing of other tree fruits, is owing largely to climatic conditions.
Near the lake the tempering influence of this large body of water affords
protection from the extremely low temperatures reached on the higher
lands but a few miles from the shore.
As recorded by the United States Weather Bureau station at
Rochester, the mean annual temperature is 47° F., and the absolute
minimum is —14°. At Cortland, in Cortland County, about 50 miles
inland and at a higher elevation, the minimum is — 30° and at Coopers-
town, about 100 miles from the lake, — 33°.
The equalizing influence of the lake also prevents early blooming
and injury from late spring frosts. At Rochester the average date of
the last killing frost in spring is April 29, at Cooperstown it is May 5,
and at Cortland May 15. Injury occurs at times, in the lake district,
from cold cloudy weather in the spring, particularly at blossom time.
Bees and other polien-distributing insects do not work well under such
conditions, and poor pollination results.
The normal annual precipitation for this district is about 32 inches.
At Sodus it is 29 inches, at Lockport 30.97 inches, at Rochester 32.83
inches, at Brockport 33.08 inches, and at Oswego 35.21 inches. This
is sufficient moisture, in a latitude of such low evaporation as this, for
the production of good crops, provided soil and subsoil are favorable
for its conservation.
On certain soils during periods of unusual drought apples and other
crops suffer from lack of moisture. In orchards this is indicated by
thin, pale foliage, by premature ripening, and by small-sized fruit.
Under such conditions even the trees may be injured.
Injury from excessive moisture in the subsoil, especially during
seasons of unusual precipitation is, however, believed to be much
ereater than that from lack of moisture during drought.
Apple growers of this district express the opinion that much injury
was caused by excess precipitation during the years 1925, 1926, and
1927, and that this injury was so serious that orchards in many places
have not yet fully recovered.
Weather records during this period show a precipitation as com-
pared with the normal as follows: At Rochester, from 0.76 inches
below the normal in 1925 to 0.82 inches above the normal in 1927; at
Oswego, from 1.17 inches below the normal in 1926 to 2.16 inches
above the normal in 1925; and at Lockport, from 1.32 inches above
the normal in 1926 to 3.98 inches above the normal in 1927. The
ereatest Increase above normal, that at Lockport, averaged only 2.46
inches a year for the 3 wet years.
Under favorable conditions of deep, well-drained soil and subsoil,
especially where there is good surface drainage, it is doubtful that a
small increase of moisture would be seriously harmful. On the other
hand, where orchards are being grown on soils not naturally well
suited for the purpose, or where the topography is flat without well-
SOIL PROFILE AND RCOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES 35
developed drainage ways and the underdrainage is poor, even a
small increase may have been, and doubtless was, seriously harmful.
In Virginia, in the Ozarks, and in some other commercial apple-
growing districts, where the rainfall is as great as in western New
York but evaporation is higher and the soil is less retentive of mois-
ture, serious injury results from drought.
In such districts trees of the same age and variety in the same
orchard differ markedly in size. ‘Trees in small depressions and on
the lower gradual slopes, where the soil is deepest and has the greater
moisture supply, have larger trunks than those on the steeper slopes
where the soil is shallow and dry. Orchards 50 or 60 years old are
unusual in such districts, and trees having trunks 6 feet in circum-
ference are rarely seen. In the lake-shore district of western New
York, in contrast, the trees of each orchard are nearly uniform in
FIGURE 1.—A typical old orchard in the lake-sho-ze district of western New York.
size regardless of soil conditions. Many orchards are producing well
at 50 years of age; some are still bearing well at 75 years of age, and
there are said to be a number of bearing apple trees in Monroe
County more than 100 years old. In many of these old orchards the
average circumference of the trunk, 30 inches above the ground, is
more than 6 feet; numerous trees have trunks more than 7 feet in
circumference, and several measure more than 8 feet.
One highly productive old orchard of the lake-shore district,
planted in 1865 on soils having good surface drainage and well-
drained subsoils, has one tree with a trunk girth of 105 inches, which is
said to have a record yield of 32 barrels of apples in 1 year. Roots
in this orchard were found to penetrate the subsoil to a depth of
about 8 feet (fig. 1).
From the age of these orchards, uniformity of growth, and size of
the trees the conclusion is reached that orchards of this district are
4 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
well supplied with moisture, have had an abundance of plant food,
and have grown under rather favorable soil and climatic conditions.
In this district prevailing winds are from the northwest, and the
trees of some orchards show this influence by a slight tendency to
lean toward the southeast. A more pronounced tendency, however,
is a twisting of the trunks of probably more than 75 percent of all the
apple trees from left to right or clockwise.
This twisting of the trunks of trees is shown in several of the illus-
trations on the following pages. Occasionally a trunk may be found
in which the twist is in the opposite direction. Trunks of pear and
of other fruit trees and of forest trees of this district do not show this
prevalence of twisting. When an occasional twisted trunk is found,
the direction of twist 1s quite as often in the opposite direction as it is
from left to right.
The cause of this prevalence in the direction of the twist of apple
trees is not definitely known, but it is believed to be owing to the
northwest winds and the tendency of the winds to shift from west to
east. In well-spaced apple orchards this force exerts an almost
constant pull in the direction of twist, while in pear orchards and in
the native forests such force cannot be so readily applied.
VARIETIES OF APPLE TREES
In this district there is a general recognition of the advantage of
using the better soils for orchard planting. These range in color from
brown or light brown to reddish brown, and in texture from loam or
sut loam to a light fine sandy loam. They are deep and have no
tight or compact layers in the subsoil or substratum to a depth of
several feet, and have good surface drainage and underdrainage.
Less attention has been given, however, to the adaptation of the
soil to the different apple varieties. Heavy and less well drained
soils are generally recognized as being better suited for the Rhode
Island Greening and other green apples than for the Baldwin and
other highly colored varieties. The McIntosh is thought to be some-
what more resistant to poor drainage conditions than are some other
varieties.
Better coloring, especially early coloring, is obtained on well-
drained soils of ight texture than on heavy soils, or on those not well
drained. The keeping quality of apples grown on soils of medium or
heavy texture, however, is said by the managers of cold-storage -
plants to be superior to that of apples grown on sandy soils where
time of ripening is earlier and the ripening process more rapid. The
fruit has a better color in orchards in sod than in orchards under
cultivation.
Early plantings in this region consisted largely of the Baldwin,
Rhode Island Greening, and Twenty Ounce varieties. Of the trees
planted in the Hilton area prior to 1899 these three varieties made
up 83 percent.°
In orchards planted since that time the Baldwin and Greening
make up an important part, but the more recent plantings also include
a large percentage of McIntosh and a somewhat less number of the
Cortland, Northern Spy, Delicious, Twenty Ounce, and Ben Davis.
3 La Mont, T. E. FACTORS AFFECTING THE INCOMES OF FRUIT FARMS IN THE HILTON AREA, MONROE
COUNTY, N.Y. N.Y. (Cornell) Agr. Col. Agr. Econ. 1, 38 p., illus. 1931. [Mimeographed.]
aa SST eer
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES 5
In 1928 the Baldwin and Rhode Island Greening constituted 50
percent of the total number of bushels of apples produced in the
Hilton area, Twenty Ounce 9 percent, and Ben Davis 8 percent. No
other variety constituted more than 5 percent of the total number of
bushels.
The adaptation of other tree fruits to soils is generally recognized.
Sweet cherries are generally believed to require the sandier, best-
drained soils. Next in order as to drainage are sour cherries, peaches,
apples, pears, and quinces. For the last-named fruit, soils are used
which are so poorly drained and wet that no other tree fruit can be
grown on them.
In the western part of the county the growing of pears is confined
almost entirely to heavy, imperfectly drained soils. Near Ironde-
quoit Bay and the Genesee River, however, this fruit is grown rather
extensively on well-drained sandy soils.
DRAINAGE
The northern part of Monroe County and a considerable portion of
this apple-growing district occupies an old, nearly level lake plain
with poor natural drainage.
Attention has been called to the injury believed to have been caused
in the orchards of this district by excess precipitation in 1925, 1926,
and 1927. In May 1931 examination was made of a number of
orchards in the western part of Monroe County * to determine the
soil and ground-water conditions. Borings with a soil auger were
made, where possible, at regular intervals throughout the orchards and
records kept of the character of soil and the height to which ground
water rose in the holes.
Of 500 borings made between the middle of May and the first of
June ground water came into more than 60 percent. In some it
rose to a depth of only a few inches in the bottom of a hole 5 feet deep,
but in many others it rose to within 2 feet or less of the surface a few
minutes after the hole had been bored. In borings made during
June, ground water was found less frequently than earlier in the sea-
son, collecting in 37 percent of more than 400 holes. Rainfall during
this period was considerably above normal in May, but below normal
in April and June.
In these borings a close relation was found between moisture con-
ditions of the subsoil and the soil type. Dark-colored soils occupying
slight depressions and flat areas were found to have the highest water
table, free ground water coming into practically all soils of this kind,
in many places rising to within a few inches of the surface. Brown
soils having mottled gray and rust-brown layers in the upper subsoil
and compact, nearly impervious layers in the deep subsoil showed
better drainage conditions, ground water being found in about one
half the borings made in such soils. In these soils the depth to free
water was also found to be greater than in the dark-colored soils.
Brown soils having subsoils free from mottling or but shghtly mottled,
and without compact or impervious layers in the deep subsoil, were
found to have the best drainage conditions. In but few places was
eround water found in such soils at a depth of 5 feet.
~ 4 OsKAmp, J., and BaATyER, L. P. SOILS IN RELATION TO FRUIT GROWING IN NEW YORK. PARTII. SIZE,
PRODUCTION, AND ROOTING HABIT OF APPLE TREES ON DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES IN THE HILTON AND MORTON
AREAS, MONROE COUNTY. N.Y. (Cornell) Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 550, 45 p., illus. 1932,
6 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
This examination indicated a saturated condition of subsoil in the
orchards which is very unfavorable for tree growth and fruit produc-
tion, especially if it occurs during the spring when growth should be
most rapid.
Defective drainage is due (1) to the accumulation of water in small
basinlike and depressed areas with no adequate outlet; (2) to smooth,
flat areas in which heavy, nearly impervious clay or rock beds are
reached at slight depths; and (3) to the occurrence of nearly imper-
vious layers of gravelly, sandy, and clay till, which consists of an
unassorted mass of small angular pieces of red sandstone, larger
somewnat rounded boulders of various kinds, sand, silt, and clay, all of
glacial origin. Fine sandy loam and fine sand of lacustrine origin are
also in places so compact that they restrict moisture movement.
Poor drainage of low-lying and depressed areas results in dark-
colored surface soils high m organic matter, and light-colored upper
subsoils, from which the coloring matter has been leached. The
light-colored layer is also sandier because a large part of the more
soluble minerals has been leached out and the nearly insoluble silica
remains.
Lack of drainage in some of the low-lying areas is due in part to
character of the subsoil. Where this consists of mottled plastic
sandy clay or of compact till, ground-water movement is very slow,
and drainage either by means oi tile or of open ditches is slow and
difficult.
Lack of drainage in other places is often due to obstructions caused
by roads, fences, field boundaries, and lines of trees crossing natural
but not very well defined drainage ways. Cultivation of the fields
has also caused the filling up of lower areas, thus checking the natural
drainage.
Much might be done to improve the drainage of such areas by
removing the obstructions and by the use of tile and of open ditches.
Provisions for drainage have thus far been almost entirely at the
expense of the individual landowner. In many cases such measures
cannot prove effective because deep master ditches are needed and
ean be constructed only through the cooperation of landowners or
by the formation of drainage districts.
By such means poorly drained areas can be improved and prevented
from becoming larger. Adiacent lands would also be benefited, but
it is doubtful if any area of dark-colored poorly drained soil with
light-gray upper subsoil in this district can be made sufficiently safe
to justify its use for commercial orchard planting.
Owing to the uneven surface of the impervious subsoil material,
poor drainage is not confined to low-lying or to flat areas. Soils
from which the surface water quickly disappears after rainfall are
not necessarily well drained. Poorly drained areas may occur on
the tops of ridges or on the slopes. Soils which may seem to have
a well-drained surface often have poorly drained subsoils. Ridges
and uplands, where defective drainage is caused by the impervious
condition of the subsoil, can be made suitable for orchard planting
by providing good surface drainage only.
This unfavorable condition is made worse by the uneven surface
of much of the lake-shore district. Slight depressions with inter-
vening ridges and mounds are common. Smooth, uniform slopes are
unusual. Run-off is seriously checked, and the water goes into the
subsoil.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES ul
Ground-water conditions in soils intended for orchard planting
where trees show signs of distress by their scant foliage or low pro-
duction, can be determined by making test holes with a soil-sampling
auger or a post-hole digger and by keeping a record of the height to
which the ground water rises in the hole and the time required for
it to disappear.
When young orchards are to be planted, good soils should be
selected, the surface carefully smoothed, and adequate surface run-off
provided. Orchards already planted should be given the best surface
drainage possible.
SOIL GROUPS
For convenience of study, soils used for orchards in this district
may be divided into three broad groups: (1) Soils with open subsoils.
These are brown, light-brown, or reddish-brown soils with subsoils
which do not restrict underdrainage. They occupy broad ridges,
terraces, and well-drained uplands and have no gray and mottled
layer in the upper subsoil or such a layer, if present, only slightly
developed. (2) Soils with tight subsoils. These are brown to
erayish-brown soils with subsoils that restrict underdrainage. They
occupy parts of ridges, nearly smooth and flat areas, are imperfectly
drained, and have the gray and mottled layer of the upper subsoil
strongly developed. (3) Dark-colored soils with poorly drained sub-
soils. These are dark grayish-brown or nearly black soils which have
the underdrainage restricted by saturation of the deep subsoil and
occupy low, depressed, and basinlike areas. In the upper subsoil is
a light-gray layer, grading below into a strongly mottled layer of
eray and rust brown. The deep subsoil may consist of reddish-
brown fine sand or fine sandy loam, of sandy clay, and in places of
eravelly sandy till.
These groups do not include the marsh and muck lands or the
recently deposited alluvial soils of the stream valleys. which are not
suited for orchard planting.
In figure 2, A, is shown a profile of Alton gravelly fine sandy loam
which is extensively developed along the ridge and in other places.
It has a well-drained surface soil and open gravelly subsoil, and
belongs to the soils of group 1. Figure 2, B, shows a profile of Poygan
sity clay loam which has a highly granular surface soil, a strongly
developed gray layer, and a hard cloddy structure in the upper part
ot the subsoil. The deep subsoil is compact till, near the surface of
which is a heavy accumulation of lime. This is one of the imperfectly
drained soils of group 2. Figure 2, CO, shows a profile of Granby loam,
a soil of group 3, which has a nearly black very granular surface soil
and a light-gray layer below a depth of 11 inches with a sharp line
of transition between.
The most striking feature of these analyses is is the heavy accumula-
tion of lime in the deep subsoil. The soil of group 1, in the 60- to
84-inch layer, shows a lime content (expressed as CaQ) of 8.06 percent;
in group 2, in the 22- to 36-inch layer, it is 10.53 percent; and in
group 3, in the 36- to 48-inch layer, it is 6.17 percent. This indi-
cates an abundance of lime for any plants with roots sufficiently deep
to reach it.
RE
CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTU
8
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SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES 9
Table 1 gives the complete chemical analyses and pH values of one
soil from each of the three soil groups.
TaBLe 1.—Chemical analyses and pH values of typical soils in each of the three
orchard-soil groups
BERRIEN FINE SANDY LOAM, GROUP 1, WELL-DRAINED SOILS
Sample ne.
Tenition loss
carbonates
= a 2 = ees en rey | a ene fics =
SS ee ess | 81S | 3s |e\6 E Bee
8) ee S| See Os ee eee S| AWS ie
In. | Pet. |Pet.| Pct. | Pet.|Pct.| Pct.| Pct. | Pct.| Pct.|Pct:|Pct.| Pet.| Pct. | Pet.| Pet |
36612_______| 0-4 | 75. 68/0. 63] 9. 12) 2. 89)0.05! 1.07] 0. 71| 1. 48) 1. 33)0. 17)0. 17] 6.37] 99. 67/0. 184|_____|6. 12
36613 eee 4-12] 77. 63| .68| 9.59] 3.10} .05| .81| 1.72) 1.57] 1.50} . 13] . 11) 3.92) 100.81) .094|_____ 15. 52
366145 Se | 12-30} 76.05] . 70} 11. 28} 4.06] .10} . 96] 1.03) 1.97] 1.48] .17| .13] 1.94) 99.87] .013)___-_|6. 72
AGE SE 30-60) 66. 98) . 78] 13. 68} 5.14] . 13) 2.97] 1.80) 2.74] 1.48] .17] . 11] 4.41) 100. 39} . 027} 1. 40/7. 93
36616 __-| 60-84} 56. 51] . 86] 13. 67] 5. 37/ .09| 8.06] 2.45) 2.88] 1.22] . 20) . 12) 8.94) 100. 37| . 025] 5. 66/7. 72
| |
POYGAN SILTY CLAY LOAM, GROUP 2, IMPERFECTLY DRAINED SOILS
jo ae wll md ina | ska ee ee | ea eed ees Je
Bobliee meee 0-5 | 74. 36/0. 7 “3 9. 93] 3. 580.10) 1. 07 0. 82} 1. 79} 1. 70/0. 17/0. 14} 5. 85 100. 240, 180... g
BO0IOE an 5-13| 75. 38) . ie 11. 07) 4 4.40} 15) .98| 93) 1.76] 1. 55) . 18) .09) 2.82) 100. 03) . 030|_- --_|6. 33
S6pl02 See 2 13-22) 65. 01) 15. 86| 6.35) . 12| 1.39| 2.06] 2.77| 1.32] . 19] - 10 ae 99. 74| -030|-——- 7. 23
36620_ - 22-36) 52.45) . 75) 13.36) 5.30) . 10/10. 53| 2.79| 2.58] 1.11] .17 - 11}11. 03) 100. 28| . 020) 8. 27/8. 03
BG p2i amen 36-42) 64. 55) i“ 10. I 3. 58) Las 7.31} 2. 26| 2.00) 1. 62| | 09] 7.25] 99.95) . 007 508 63
| | | |
GRANBY LOAM, GROUP 3, POORLY DRAINED SOILS
| | er
3660222 == 0-11} 74. 00|0. 62| 10. 02/ 2. 50/0. 04) 1.77] 0. 87} 1. 72| 1. 50\0. 18/0. 16] 6. 83] 100. 21/0. 245]_- bh 65
3660s eee ae 11-14] 81.62] . 48] 9.30) 2.10) .04| 1.47] .80) 1.65 i 53] . 12} .08| 1.04] 99. 63) . 019]_____ 8. 12
i | 14-24] 80. 45] . 48] 9.64) 2.28) .05: 1.46] . 84) 1. Bo . 45] . 12} .07| 1.03] 99. 52| .012|_____|8. 33
Le Ue me | 24-36] 75.41] .61| 11.00! 3. 03) . 08] 1.85] 1.38) 2.02] 1.75] . 16] . 08| 2.24) 99.61] .015| 0. 88)8. 7
36606____-_-| 36-48) 57. 15) . 89) 13. a 6. 85] . 12 4 2, 32 3.06! 1.35] . 21|'. 12] 7 Pa 99.77! . 032) 4. ae 20
| | | |
In the soil of group 1 the nearly insoluble silica (SiO,) decreases
from near the surface downward, and the more soluble iron (Fe.O;) and
alumina (Al,O;) show a corresponding increase. In the soil of group 2
the silica (SiO») is least abundant in the 22- to 36-inch layer, and the
iron (Fe.O;) and alumina (Al,O3) show an almost regular curve with
maximum concentration in the 13- to 22-inch layer, the highest con-
centration of lime (CaQ) being in the 22- to 36-inch layer. In the soil
of group 3 the silica (SiOz) is concentrated in the 11- to 14-inch layer,
and the iron (Fe,O;) and alumina (A1,O;), on the other hand, are low-
est in the white leached 11- to 14-inch layer and have their maximum
concentration in the 36- to 48-inch layer, in this case probably owing to
heavy parent material at this depth.
Table 2 gives the mechanical analyses of one soil from each of the
three groups.
As shown in table 2, fine sand predominates in all layers in the
soil of group 1 (Berrien loamy fine sand) and silt and clay are fairly
uniformly distributed. In the soil of group 2 (Poygan silty clay loam)
sit and clay predominate, and a very heavy concentration of clay,
much of which is colloidal clay, is found between depths of 13 and 36
inches. Very fine sand predominates in the soil of group 3 (Granby
loam), with silt ranking next. Between depths of 11 and 24 inches
there is only a trace of clay, this being practically all colloidal clay.
The heavy silt and clay in the 36- to 48-inch layer is slightly weathered
parent material.
13123°
10
TaBLE 2.— Mechanical analyses of typical soils in each of the three orchard-soil
CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
groups
BERRIEN LOAMY FINE SAND, GROUP 1
| ee
| Fine | Coarse | | Medi | Fine : | : Col-
Sample no. Depth ae ere fine | Silt ay :
= 2 | gravel | sand | sand | sand | sand | Clas loid 1
| Inches eeereen Percent | Percent | ercenl Percent | Percent | Percent Percent
366960 = Sea eke reece ee O4 | 3.5 | 10.8 21.0 35. 0 10.3} 11.4] 7.9 5.6
3662 (82 Se tes eee See oe 4-15 AN 228s 205ml S650 9.8 | 9.9 6.2 | 4.3
36628 eo Sa ee ee ae] 15-40 | 4.0 NO e235 Ate, 6.1 | 4.1 ah 2.4
SOU20 20 ae 2 ee eee ware ee 40570) 24a CSO 1G eo ieee 450 | 3.0 2.9 2.0
SOG80 222 ee en ee eee age | 70-104 | 2.0 | (ie: Hr ie EEN Re 25.7 Bs} | 2587) 22
| | | |
POYGAN SILTY CLAY LOAM, GROU
aS a eee: Aico
SOG lee ae See ne eee | 0-5 1.3 2.6 | 3. 2 oa 18.5 50.1 18.5 16. 2
SECIS See es Seo ane | 5-13 | 2.1 3.0 2.9 | 5.4] 21.1 48.5 16.8 11.8
NGG19 82. A ae 13-22 .1 .4 e One gerl Sul peel 36.3 56.2} 40.0
Ty ee apes Seon PG | 1.3 1.0 | a BEY Nee al fee ok DA GPS Roe Sey]
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1 Colloid (included with clay) represents particles less than 0.002 millimeter in diameter.
In a study of the soils of the Hilton area,’ the soils of the first
group were classed as favorable, the second oeroup as marginal, and
the third group as unfit. In a comparison in production of the dif-
ferent groups it was found that in an area of 13,582 acres, 23 percent
was used for orchards. Of the iand planted to orchards, 57 percent
was regarded as favorable, 39 percent marginal, and 4 percent unfit.
On the favorable soils, during the period 1928-30, 25 orchards with
a total of 3,466 trees, ranging from 55 to 61 years of age, had an aver-
age yleld of 7.25 bushels a tree, and on the marginal soils 12 orchards
with a total of 1,445 trees averaged only 2.6 bushelsa tree. Following
is a comparison of the average yield of orchards ranging from 18 to 21
years of age, during the same period: On the favorable soils 15 orchards
with a total of 1,858 trees had an average yield of 3.16 bushels a tree,
and on the marginal soils 16 orchards with a total of 1,914 trees aver-
aged only 1.5 bushels.
Appearance of the trees on the better soils is shown in figure 3, 4;
of the unproductive trees near the edge of the Granby soils, which
are poorly drained soils, in figure 3, B; and of the dead and missing |
trees grown on the top of a low ridge i in a small area of Poygan silty i
clay loam surrounded by a good stand of trees grown on the slopes
of Hilton gravelly loam in figure 3, C. Contrasts of this kind are
to be found in a very large per centage of the orchards of this district
where the use of poor soils has increased the cost of planting and
maintaining the orchards and lowered their average production.
5 OSKAMP, J., and BATJER, L. P. Op. cit.
en See,
A
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES ai
FIGURE 3, A, a high-producing orchard of the Baldwin and Rhode Island Greening varieties on a soi! of
group 1; B, an unproductive tree near the edge of a group 3 soil; C, dead and missing trees where surface
oraineee is poor surrounded by a nearly perfect stand of productive trees where the surface drainage is
good.
12 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
In the following pages, brief descriptions of the more important
soils of this apple-growing district are given.
GRCUP 1, SOILS WITH OPEN SUBSOILS
Soils of group 1, which may be called the well-drained or best-
drained soils, have a rather wide range in character of parent material
from which they developed. These soils have weathered from beach
and terrace deposits of sandy and gravelly material, from old lake
eee of fine sand, silt, and clay, and to some extent from glacial
till.
In the Hilton area it was found® that roots in soils of this group
extend to a depth of more than 8 feet, and that these soils are con-
sidered among the best of the district for apple growing.
ALTON SOILS
Along the old beach line or ridge which extends almost continuously
across Monroe County and the entire length of this apple-growing
district, marking the southern limit of the area studied, is a dark-
brown sandy and gravelly soil called Alton gravelly sandy loam. At
a depth ranging from 6 to 10 inches this soil grades into a yellowish-
brown lght gravelly sandy loam or fine sandy loam which is under-
lain below a depth of 18 inches by thin beds of light-brown sand,
fine sand, and small sharp gravel. The deep subsoil, below a depth
of 30 inches, consists of sand and water-worn gravel which, below a
depth ranging from 30 to 36 inches, has an abundance of lime, effer-
vescing freely with acid, but is cemented only in small local spots.
Northeast of Morton, in the western part of Monroe County, is a
low broad ridge on which there is an almost continuous planting of
apple and peach orchards. This is generally recognized as one of
the most highly productive orchard sections of the county. These
soils belong to the same series as those on the higher better-drained
parts of the ridge. Smaller areas of Alton soils are found throughout
the district.
Roots of apple trees planted on this soil penetrate the subsoil to a
depth of many feet. On account of the coarse texture and open
structure these soils require heavy fertilization, especially with ma-
nure, but owing to good underdrainage they are excellent orchard
soils.
DUNKIRK SOILS
In the northern half of the belt between the ridge and the lake,
west of Genesee River, and in places east of Irondequoit Bay are
numerous areas of light-brown silty soil, with no gravel, or nearly
free trom it. The subsoil is heavier than the surface soil. It con-
sists of silty clay, which in places is light red or pink, and in other
places olive-brown. It is stratified with thin layers of silt, fine sandy
loam, and fine sand. The gray and mottled upper subsoil layer is
variable, thin, and slightly developed in places, and thick and strongly
developed in other locations. Some of the oldest and highest pro-
ducing orchards of this district have been grown on this soil (Dunkirk
silt loam).
6 Oskamp, J., and BATJER, L. P. Op. cit.
SCIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES is
BERRIEN SOILS
Closely associated with the soils of the Dunkirk series are loamy
fine sands and light fine sandy loams of the Berrien series which have
almost the same value for apple-orchard purposes. These soils have
developed largely from water-laid material. The surface soil and the
upper part of the subsoil is well dr ained, but drainage in the deeper
part of the subsoil is restricted to some extent by layers of silty clay.
Mottling of light gray and rust brown occurs in a deep zone of the
subsoil, ‘but this seems to indicate a less harmful condition in soils of
this kind than in soils of heavier textur e, in which the zone of mottling
is near the surface.
PETOSKEY SOILS
In the vicinity of Genesee River and Irondequoit Bay are extensive
areas of brown loamy fine sand, which are nearly free from compact
or heavy layers and from mottling of gray and rust brown. They
have, however, in many places thin irreoular layers of shghtly ce-
mented reddish-brown sand. This soil (Petoskey loamy fine sand)
is used extensively for gardening, for use in greenhouses, for growing
peaches, and to less extent for apple orchards.
LUCAS SOILS
Of the Lucas soils, only Lucas silty clay loam was recognized in
Monroe County. This soil is a gray or dark-gray silty clay loam.
The surface soil is granular and has a thin, shallow gray layer. The
entire subsoil breaks into very hard, blocky clods which effervesce
freely with acid below a depth of 30 inches. This soil is used to some
extent for apple orchards, and where examined, the roots were found
to penetrate the soil to a depth of more than 9 feet, principally by
following downward along cleavage planes.
Lucas silty clay loam is used to some extent for apple orchards,
but owing to difficulty in handling it and to the slow growth of trees,
it is not the most desirable soil for this purpose.
GROUP 2, SOILS WITH TIGHT SUBSOILS
Soils of group 2 have a surface soil of slightly different color from
the soils of group 1. In places: the soils are light brown or grayish
brown and in others dark gray, dark grayish brown, or reddish brown.
The deep subsoil is tight or compact silty clay, or compact silt, fine
sandy loam, fine sand, or gravelly sandy till. The orTay lay er is
strongly developed, with abundant mottling of rust brown in the lower
part of the layer. Most soils in this group have smooth, nearly flat
surfaces and are not well drained.
COLLAMER SOILS
The soils of the Collamer series differ from those of the Dunkirk
series, with which they are closely associated, principally in having a
less well drained surface soil, a more compact deep subsoil, and a
more strongly developed gray and mottled layer. These soils have
developed on nearly level surfaces from the weathering of old ee
laid material where underdrainage is restricted by heavy or compac
layers. These layers in places are not only nearly impervious ne
are cross-bedded, twisted, bent, and distorted, causing pocketing and
14 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
the formation of false or suspended water tables. On soils of this
kind, however, many high-producing orchards have been grown.
Greater care to provide good surface drainage is necessary, and on
such soils orchards deteriorate, when neglected, more rapidly than
on naturally better drained soils.
HILTON SOILS
In the northern part of Monroe County, but most extensively
developed midway between the ridge and the lake, are many long
low ridges of reddish-brown gravelly fine sandy loam and gravelly
loam soils of the Hilton series. The deep subsoil is reddish-brown
very compact till. In some places this deep subsoil has been reworked
by water and is more or less stratified. When the moist soil is bored
into with a soil auger the compact subsoil seems loose and friable,
but when examined with pick and shovel it is found to be so hard that
it cannot be broken easily. When dry this subsoil is so hard that it
seems to be cemented, although such is not the case. At a depth of
about 30 inches it contains, in most places, enough lime to effervesce
freely with acid. Its imperviousness is owing to compaction of soil
particles rather than to cementation.
Where this layer of compact till is exposed in roadside cuts, mois-
ture after rainfall may be seen to follow along its surface after pene-
trating the upper subsoil layer. Since the surface relief is very uneven,
it causes the formation of wet and imperfectly drained areas on till
slopes, shallow basins with impervious subsoil around the source of
small drainage ways, and in many places poorly drained flats on the
tops of till ridges.
In the Hilton soils the oray and mottled layer is moderately
developed. These soils were originally classed with the Ontario soils
but have recently been separated. In a few areas of fine sandy soil
the gray layer is not developed and the subsoil is more friable than
typical, but on account of their small extent these soils have been
included with Hilton fine sandy loam.
There are in the lake-shore district, principally south of the ridge,
important areas of till soils, the subsoils of which are not compact.
In such areas trees root deeper than on the Hilton soils, but climatic
conditions here are less favorable than on the soils nearer the shore of
the lake.
Compactness of a subsoil can best be determined by digging into
it when dry or when only slightly moist. If it is so hard that it can
be loosened only by the use of a pick or crowbar, it may be regarded
as compact, and tree roots will penetrate it but slightly. Soils on which
orchards are to be planted should be thoroughly examined by digging
several pits, to a depth of at least 6 feet, and the character of the
subsoil thus determined. If the soil is found to be 30 inches deep
before a compact layer is reached, an orchard may be grown on it,
but good surface drainage will be necessary. Yields will be less cer-
tain, however, and production lower, over a period of years, than
where the soil has a deep open subsoil of twice that depth or more.
The Hilton soils have been used extensively for apple orchards
since the early plantings were made, probably because it was believed
that these soils were well drained. On these till ridges some good
orchards are to be found, but production in many is below the average
for this district,
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES 15
In a comparison of yields from orchards grownon till soils, including
both well-drained and imperfectly drained soils, in the Hilton and
Morton areas, with yields from orchards grown on soils developed
from water-laid material represented principally by the Dunkirk and
Collamer series, it was found’ that in orchards of the old-age group
grown on soils developed from water-laid material 24 orchards with a
total of 3,265 trees had an average yield of 6.7 bushels a tree, but on
the till soils 13 orchards with a total of 1,646 trees averaged only
3.85 bushels. In the young-age group, on soils developed from water-
laid material, 14 orchards, with a total of 1,797 trees, averaged 2.8
bushels a tree, but on the till soils 17 orchards, with a total of 1,975 trees,
averaged only 1.8 bushels.
Adjacent to the ridges occupied by the typical Hilton soils, and in
places surrounding them, are gravelly sous of shghtly darker gray
color, in which the gray layer is more strongly developed. These
soils are recognized as imperfectly drained phases of Hilton gravelly
fine sandy loam and Hilton gravelly loam. They have less gravel on
the surface, a more level topography, and poorer surface drainage.
The subsoil is very compact and in places very gravelly, a larger part
of it having been reworked and stratified than in the subsoil of the
ridges. These soils are used rather extensively for orchards but are
believed to be less well suited for this purpose than are the typical
Hilton soils.
South of the main till ridges, in the district studied, are a number
of low ridges and broad areas in which a thin layer of till rests, at
depths ranging from 30 inches to more than 6 feet, on residual soil
derived from dull-red shale and in places on reworked and stratified
till. This soil has been classified as a shallow phase of Hilton gravelly
loam and has been used for orchards with a fair degree of success.
SCHLEGEL SOILS
In the eastern part of the county, occupying the same relative
position north of the ridge as the shallow phase of Hilton gravelly
loam, are areas of shallow till soils over an uneven shaly limestone.
These areas are also used for apple orchards but are not highly
productive. These soils are identified as Schlegel gravelly loam.
POYGAN SOILS
Within the till ridges, especially where surface drainage is poor,
are small flat and basinlike areas in which both surface drainage and
underdrainage are imperfect. Many of these areas, within orchards,
can be outlined by the poor condition of the trees or by missing trees.
The soil is dark grayish-brown silty clay loam or silty clay of the
Poygan series, underlain by a plastic clay which breaks into large,
hard, irrevular clods. This material, in turn, is underlain at an
average depth of about 30 inches by compact till. The upper part
of this till layer is more or less mottled with gray and rust brown, the
clods have a dark-brown staining on the surface, and there is usually
2 heavy accumulation of lime in light-gray masses immediately above
the till layer.
’ OSKAMP, J., and BATJER, L. P. Op. cit.
16 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SCHOHARIE AND LOCKPORT SOILS
Other soils belonging to group 2 having tight or imperfectly
drained subsoils are the Schoharie silty clay loam, a dull-red heavy
silty clay loam, and the Lockport silty clay loam, developed largely
from the weathering of dull-red shale. Both soils have been used to
some extent for orchard planting, but results have been unsatis-
factory.
GROUP 3, DARK-COLORED POORLY DRAINED SOILS
GRANBY SOILS
Soils of group 3 have a dark grayish-brown or nearly black surface
soil, a light- -oray or nearly white subsoil highly mottled with rust
brown in the lower part of the layer, and a deep subsoil which is
somewhat variable. In much of this district, the subsoil consists of
oe oon son a rs A 1
\
-_—-
ake
\
FIGURE 4.—Small section of soil map of the Hilton area showing how the dark-colored soils, indicated
within the dotted lines, extend into apple orchards, indicated by +.
light-brown or reddish-brown fine sandy loam or fine sand. In
places, however, rust-brown fine sandy clay is reached at slight
depths, and in some places till is found in the deep subsoil. In
much of this district these soils are alkaline from the surface down-
ward.
Souls of this kind, which belong principally to the Granby series,
are entirely unsuited for orchards. Because of their occurrence in
small bodies in association with better soils they have, however, been
used for this purpose rather extensively. In many orchards, they
are confined to a few narrow strips or to small isolated spots, but in
varying amounts they occur in nearly every orchard of the district.
On such soils many trees have grown to large size but have, as a
rule, become unproductive and died prematurely.
A plot of the trees in almost any orchard of this district will show
that the sick and missing trees were planted on soils of this kind,
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES
Xa ox YX O.xi = x
XX x = BK x
ONS - x/o Bie xO
OF X -1® ex Sn are
O ae) - xX = x Xe CO
Ce X — ne —- x x
YS =-X —' x Ox = =
yer Ko y! =X KX =? x
x x -\x eT elena —
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= = Y= (6. O 1x = «x
X — X a O O Ix X - X -
XX = 1) © Oi = ene
eX — ix x O |x Vo Ke =
© x= 216 © OR 2 8 oe
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KoX cS XO © Orme = xX = =x
Y= x SOO. @ =. x=
Xx X - x x! © Oix-=-x = x
X — xX = xio 630 x - x0
Mex X x x1 O O jx Ke x
XO OO. X -xX. 6 x
17
FIGURE 5.—Plot of trees in an old high-producing orchard showing large number of dead trees on dark-
colored_ poorly drained Granby soils, indicated within the dotted lines. XX indicates productive
trees; ©, dead trees: ®, sick trees; — , trees cut out for better spacing.
18 CIRCULAR 303, US. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
and that the trees which have persisted and have been productive
are on soils that are lighter brown in color and better drained.
The way in which these dark-colored soils finger out into nearly all!
parts of an area and extend into or across orchards is shown in a
tracing of a small part of the soil map of the Hilton area (fig. 4).
In figure 5 is shown the plot of an old high-producing orchard of
Baldwin and Greening trees planted on Dunkirk silt loam but with
a narrow strip of Granby silt loam extending across it. On the
Granby soils, enclosed by dotted lines, nearly all the trees have died
or have been cut out. Some trees around the edge of this strip are
also unproductive.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION
In the commercial apple-growing districts of Virginia, there are a
few orchards, 65 years old or older, with trunks 5 to 6 feet in cireum-
ference. Where examined, these orchards were found to be on deep
well-drained friable soils favorable for deep rooting and for moisture
conservation.
In the apple-growing districts of the Ozarks, examinations have
shown ® that trees planted on soils with open subsoils grow larger,
produce better, and live longer than trees planted on soils with tight
subsoils.
To determine the depth and extent of rooting in the soils of the
lake-shore district of western New York, excavations were made and
the number, size, and position of the roots were plotted.
For this purpose representative trees were selected, and excava-
tions 30 inches wide, 8 feet long, and as deep as roots could be found
were made, the center of the closer side being 16 feet from the trunk
of the tree. If possible the excavations were made where roots from
other trees would not enter them.
As the excavation was extended downward, the side wall adjacent
to the tree was smoothed with a shovel. This was then laid off into
1-foot squares which were further divided into 6-inch blocks. The
size and position of the roots cut off in the side wall were then plotted
for a length of 6 feet, leaving 1 foot of space at either end of the exca-
vation for working room. Lines were also marked on the wall and
corresponding lines were drawn on a graph representing as nearly as
possible the soil horizons or soil layers as seen in the freshly cut wall,
these being indicated largely by the color of the soil.
In this way a number of graphs were made of roots of trees growing
on the more important soil types of each group. A few of these,
believed to be representative of subsoil conditions and root penetra-
tion as found in this district, are shown in this circular.
Attention has already been called to the relation between the dark-
colored poorly drained soils and missing or unproductive trees. The
nearly black color and granular structure of these soils at the surface
is well shown in figure 2, C. No orchards were found which had
been planted entirely on soils of this group, and where any consider-
able part of an orchard had been so planted it was found that nearly
all the trees had died. Occasionally, however, an isolated tree
was found in an area of this kind or along its edge.
3 Sweet, A. T. SUBSOIL AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE GROWTH OF APPLE TREES IN THE OZARKS. U.S
Dept. Agr. Cire. 95, 12 p., illus. 1929.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES 19
Figure 6 shows the root development of a Baldwin apple tree’ 47
vears old, with a trunk circumference of 72 inches, grown on Granby
loam. Roots near the surface are very abundant and are fairly so to
a depth of 5 feet. More than one half of these roots, however, both
large and small, are dead. Maximum penetration was to a depth
of about 5 feet, and the dead and live roots seem to be rather uni-
formly distributed.
The condition of the roots of this tree is fairly representative of
that found wherever trees in this district have been planted on these
dark-colored poorly drained soils. In many places, however, where
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@® ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER *- SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
© BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER © LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 6.—Root development of a Baldwin apple tree 47 years old on Granby loam, a poorly drained soil
of group 3: A, very dark grayish-brown silt loam; B, light-gray almost white fine sandy loam; C, rust-
brown and gray mottled clay loam; and D, reddish-brown thinly stratified fine sandy loam.
the subsoil is almost continuously saturated, but few roots extend to
a depth of more than 30 inches.
A considerable part of the soils of the second group has developed
from ice-laid material or till, a portion of which has been reworked
and somewhat stratified by water. Figures 7 and 8 show the depth
of rooting in soils cf this kind.
In figure 7 is shown the root development of a Baldwin tree 50
years old, with a trunk girth of 59 inches, planted on Hilton gravelly.
loam. The orchard has received good care, and production has been
moderate but uncertain.
* In these studies of root penetration Baldwin apple trees have been used to a greater extent than other
varieties because they make up the larger part of the older orchards. An examination of other varieties,
however, shows approximately the same depth of penetration in corresponding soils.
20 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DEPTH (FEET)
@® ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ** SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
G BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER @® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 7.—Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree 50 years old, 59 inches in circumference, on Hilton
gravelly loam, a till soil of group 2: A, dark reddish-brown gravelly loam; B, light-brown gravelly loam;
C, gray and brown mottled loam; and D, compact reddish-brown sandy till.
DECiEHy GREE)
© ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER *+ SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
© BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 8.—Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree 50 years old, with a trunk girth of 52 inches, planted
on Hilton graveily loam: A, dark-brown gravelly loam; B, light-brown gravelly loam; C, grayish-brown
mottled gravelly loam; D, compact sandy clay; and 7, very compact sandy till.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES Dag
Figure 8 shows the depth and extent of rooting of a Baldwin tree
about 50 years old, with a trunk girth of 52 inches, planted on a
reddish-brown very gravelly loam with compact sandy till subsoil,
the Hilton gravelly loam. The trunk is small for a tree of that age,
in this district, and production has been poor and uncertain. At
one end of the excavation the roots extended to a depth of nearly 4
feet, but at the other end no roots were found deeper than 2 feet.
DEPTH (FEET)
@ ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER e+ SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
G BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 9.—Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree grown on a soil of group 2 developed from water-laid
material: A, brown silt loam; B, light-brown silt loam; C, gray and brown mottled silt loam, with a
mass of grayish-brown sandy clay on the left; D, light-brown compact fine sandy loam; F, reddish-
brown clay; and F, grayish-brown very compact fine sandy loam.
Depths of root penetration shown in figures 7 and 8 are fairly repre-
sentative of the root penetration of a number of trees examined on
sous of this kind.
The average depth of rooting as shown in figure 7 is about 3 feet;
the rooting is sparse in the lower part of the soil section, where roots
come in contact with the compact layer of till. The surface of the till,
as shown in figure 8, is in places very uneven.
In the level imperfectly drained soils which surround the till ridges,
the Hilton gravelly loam and Hilton gravelly fine sandy loam, imper-
tectly drained phase, the depth of rooting has been found to be about
as deep as on the till soils on the ridges but with roots shghtly less
abundant.
22 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The water-laid soils of group 2, particularly the Collamer soils, show
wider variations in subsoil conditions than are found in the soils of
till origin.
In figure 9 is shown the root development of a Baldwin tree 71 years
old having a trunk 92 inches in circumference and grown on Collamer
silt loam, a soil of group 2 developed from water-laid material.
Heavy rooting near the surface and an abundance of large roots will
be noted. In the C and D layers the rooting is light. In the thin
layer of reddish-brown clay it is heavy, and in the grayish-brown
very compact fine sandy loam roots are almost entirely lacking. Max-
DEPTH (FEET)
@® ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER
°- SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
© BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 10.— Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree grown on a heavy phase of Collamer silt loam:
A, dark grayish-brown heavy silt loam; B, light-brown silt loam; C, dull reddish-brown silty clay
slightly mottled with gray in the upper part; D, an irregular mass of olive- brown silt; E, brown clay;
and F, olive-brown compact silt and very fine sandy loam reached at a depth of 3 feet at one end of the
excavation and at 6 feet at the other.
imum root penetration is about 6 feet but is scant below 3 feet. In
this orchard surface drainage is good, the soil has been heavily ma-
nured, and the orchard has been productive.
In figure 10 is shown the root development of a Baldwin apple tree
75 years old, with a trunk girth of 86 inches, grown on a heavy type
of Collamer silt loam. The gray layer is not very strongly developed,
and the impervious subsoil is rather deep.
Figure 11, A, shows a Baldwin apple tree 71 years old, 92 inches in
circumference, erown on Collamer silt loam; and figure ane Bb, shows
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES jg:
Figure 11.—A, Baldwin apple tree 92 inches in circumference, the root penetration of which is shown
figure 9: B, Baldwin apple tree 86 inches in circumference, the root penetration of which is shown
figure 10.
in
in
24 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
a Baldwin apple tree 75 years old, 86 inches in circumference, grown
on a heavy type of the same soil. The root penetration of these trees
is shown in figures 9 and 10, respectively.
Roots are very abundant in the heavier soils but almost entirely
wanting in the compact silt and very fine sand. Ata depth of about
4}, feet a number of small roots have followed a thin layer of clay
into the compact silt and very fine sand. With this exception they
have penetrated the compact material scarcely at all.
In places soils of the Collamer series of group 2 differ from the
Dunkirk series of
eroup | principally in
the more strongly
developed gray and
mottled layer of the
upper subsoil.
Although soils of
the Collamer series
have been developed
from water-laid and
stratified material,
the layers in the deep
subsoil as seen in
these excavations and
in figure 12 are in
many placesdistorted
and twisted.
The cause of this
distortion of water-
laid material is not
definitely known. It
may have been caused
by the thrust of the
ice mass, by the melt-
ing of ice flows, by
slumping of the ma-
= ead terial on slopes, or by
ee : - some other agency.
Soils of group 1
Ficu 2.—A d adside cut near Seabreeze showing the twisted have good under-
aah ceased eibcoilisyers found in places in the soils of group 2. drainage so that the
subsoil is never sat-
urated for long periods of time. Compact layers which tend
to check or stop root penetration are not reached at slight depths
and are but slightly developed. The deep penetration of roots in
such soils is well shown in figures 13 and 14.
In figure 13 is shown the root development of a Baldwin apple tree
35 years old, with a trunk girth of 67 inches, grown on Petoskey loamy
fine sand. The soil of this orchard has been deeply cultivated and
has received heavy applications of manure. The scarcity of roots in
the surface laver and their abundance and larger size in the B, C,
and D layers can be noted. The roots extend to a depth of 10 feet.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES Zo
. es
e . we
e . -
. e . Sor
SS oo eons Ses a :
~ - > ~ ee ee eee
2. SS Se s © Om .
0 . e .
e 6155 5 5 Ce tc
ae e . dO . <
| ‘ che . . OND
. ee +. . .
: Sas ; 0 : ; B
. oO
. emilee . es & 3 . .' °7O
e-
5 5 A . aah
- exe eae
: : =)
. -
See er eS BS
—— er
.
. .
. . .
. = v
. Ce . 5 .
7 | bs eces ara Soe ee Oa Ge “6
~~ ®. Se ee OI oe RTL Cee snes WD ereaes Bye es 2
=. . e .
ke °
Ww ee " -
uJ . e ° :
LL Shere . .
« 8 y <i) . >
Wy 5 ; ‘: :8 oa Se Ope sya :
~ c . . e
= ie oe 2 é
iS .
| ed . .
(als Geis sig .
uJ . e 6 f see c fe . 5
(a) i ;
6 ooo :
Es .
= ie 568"
. z °
Qe G8 .
. ef, : ;
» 2 E
Oa)
< e 2 e RL "
erae e
sitetee “ . 3
sro@): 5
Bo - :
- “e.
ae ae
EO
.
« 7
¢ -
—_— — <:
z core Ones ee Seer
_--_— Sek
~
SY}
“N
® ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER *- SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
G BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 13.—Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree 35 years old on Petoskey loamy fine sand, a soil of
group 1: A, brown loamy fine sand; B, light-brown loamy fine sand; C, yellowish-brown fine sand;
D, grayish-brown fine sand; £, light grayish-brown fine sand; and F, gray fine sand.
26 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
In figure 14 is shown the root development of a Baldwin tree 54
vears old, with a trunk girth of 80 inches, grown on Dunkirk silt
loam, a soil of group 1. The roots are well distributed but are most
abundant near the surface and in the thin layers of clay near the bot-
tom. They are least abundant in the lower part of the very fine sandy
anes Eee e = Ses
| Ora ses Se x a ~~ . a So N EAS 0 ~
< j
-@
Sig eee
x
“iis Nie ° as (@;
\ Gwe fie Sean
Ve \° Bee e —
/ . Ze aS C)
2 _~ a \ /- \' See <<
eee N7 SS eee wasn
TN
N
ud ig ea °
{SU eet acrid aie i Riu ede eek co tices Sime 0
Le sare Pree ot ‘ ° iON
Nay, e oe See é y, \
TENG a es e pie eA \e
‘ pes a cr SR Ay
els ‘
ea gah
ae
uJ
Q
e
| ee eae ee eee
oie fe Pe Ae Be Oa ici ae ane >= =
; = ge GE Gr Gea oS SS
yom Sayers = ‘ ) 6 ° 8
Sean Siena Gees , 7 6
wt See SS * . e &
, ~ Ary .
6 i eos Basins For oe re! 'e : oe
a Peo Ser Ssiea anata ~ ‘ 5
yo aN SSS iaeuts ke: Rocha seas : Denes
= ls ey ee Ee ry Oa tl SD tO UR OS Cine iby Oo Lae
~ = ~ site neiute 4 . core
= 9 mo SHaCe ie i= at OD
~ ‘ Cee
eae ae ee ee oe aes Cie ese
Bee ew . Sethe
~
seats
G Slice
~
~
@® ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER e- SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
© BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER @ LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 14.—Root penetration of a Baldwin apple tree on Dunkirk silt loam, a soil of group 1: A, brown
silt loam; B, light-brown silt loam; C, gray and rust-brownsilt loam; D, light-brown silt with lenses of
red clay, #, light-brown very fine sandy loam with thin layers of light-red and olive-brown clay; and
F’, compact very fine sand.
loam layer and stop abruptly at the surface of the compact very fine
sand layer at a depth ranging from 6 to 7 feet.
Figure 15 shows the root development of a Baldwin tree 55 years
old, with a trunk girth of 100 inches, growing on Dunkirk silt loam.
The heavy and well-distributed rooting will be noted, also an almost
total absence of roots in layer # of compact very fine sandy loam.
Roots which extend into the lower part of the profile are evidently
the branches of larger roots which penetrate this compact layer nearer
the tree trunk. Roots were found to a depth of more than 9 feet.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES pal
Figure 16 shows a Baldwin apple tree with a trunk of 100 inches in
circumference, the root development of which is shown in figures 15
and 17.
DEPTH (FEET)
© ROOTS MORE THAN ONE INCH IN DIAMETER
e- SMALLER ROOTS AND ROOTLETS
© BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH IN DIAMETER ® LARGE DEAD ROOTS
X SMALLER DEAD ROOTLETS
FIGURE 15.—Root development of a Baldwin apple tree on Dunkirk silt loam, in the subsoil of which is a
thin layer of compact very fine sandy loam: A, brown silt loam; B, light-brown silt loam; C, gray and
rust-brown mottled silt loam; D, dull-red stratified clay; E, grayish-brown compact very fine sandy loam;
F, dull-red and olive-brown stratified clay; and G, compact sand and gravel.
In order to see how completely the roots permeate the soil mass, a
strip 1 foot wide extending from the top to the bottom of the excava-
tion used in figure 15 was selected. On this strip of side wall the soil
28 CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
was carefully picked from the roots and rootlets to a thickness of
about 2 inches. These were then sketched as shown in figure 17.
The enormous extent of the roots of a large apple tree in a soil of
this kind is much greater than is often realized. A conservative esti-
mate indicates that the roots
of this tree thoroughly per-
meate and draw moisture and
some plant food from at least
14.400 cubic feet of soil,
enough to cover, to a depth
of 1 foot, one third of
acre. The function of these
deep roots is not definitely
known, but records show that
trees which root deeply not
only produce well but also
are consistent producers un-
der varying seasonal condi-
tions. In the Hilton area it
was found that roots in the
deep subsoil seem to have a
stabilizing influence on or-
chard performance and prac-
tically all deep-rooted or-
chards were found to be
productive.
These graphs show that
in the soils of group 3 roots
extend sufficiently deep for
vood production, but that
so many of the roots are
dead or in bad condition that
high production or long life of
the tree cannot be expected.
FiGurE 16.—Baldwin apple tree with a trunk 100 inches In the soils of group 2,
IGURE 16. a wan aDplestie wi a trun inches trees on the till ridges with
compact till subsoil, and on
the less well drained flatter areas of the lower gravelly slopes root to
an average depth of about 3 feet. On the level imperfectly drained
soils developed from water-laid material there is wide variation in
depth and extent of rooting, the maximum penetration being about
6 feet, but in many places rooting 1s not abundant below 4 feet.
SOIL PROFILE AND ROOT PENETRATION BY APPLE TREES
29
In soils of group 1, where deep penetration is not obstructed, roots
extend to a depth ranging from 7 to 10 feet.
This agrees not only with production records but
also with production stability, or uniformity of pro-
duction. Trees which, by deep and extensive root-
ing, have the greatest soil and moisture resources
give the largest and most consistent yields, and fruit
of the best quality.
CONCLUSIONS
In the principal commercial apple-growing district
of western New York, extending for a distance of
about 125 miles along the shore of Lake Ontario, a
close relation is found between soil profile, depth of
rooting, and apple production.
In extensive sections used for orchard planting the
maximum depth of rooting 1s about 3 feet. In other
sections of imperfectly drained soil it is about 6 feet,
but in the deepest best-drained soils it is more than
9 feet.
Any orchardist of this district can, by careful obser-
vation and the use of pick and shovel, judge the value
of his soil for orchard planting with a fair degree of
accuracy. Dark-colored, poorly drained soils are to
be avoided. Soil with imperfect underdrainage, indi-
cated by strongly developed gray layers or by heavy
mottling of light) eray and rust brown, especially soils
occupying flat topography and having impervious or
shallow subsoils, are to be used with caution.
Soils and subsoils of nearly uniform color and with
oradual gradations in texture are preferable to soils
with sharp, abrupt changes in either color or texture.
The greatest aids to stabilization of production in
this district, as In many others, are (1) the proper
selection of soils for new plantings, (2) the cutting out
of orchards where production is low and cannot be i im-
proved, (3) the elimination of marginal lands for
orchard purposes, and (4) better control of moisture
conditions, consisting in this district largely of provid-
ing better surface drainage,
DEPTH (FEET)
|w
IN
Set 4
Hie)
£A
ae
Qroon
Aye a
. A
~ |
ALG ~
4
A
ws 4
FIGURE 17.—The ex-
tent of roots ina
strip 1 foot wide
and 2 inches thick
from surface to a
depth of 9 feet.
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WHEN THIS PUBLICATION WAS LAST PRINTED
IS CCT ELOTANO fel G TUG LUG UUT, Crees te ee ene Henry A. WALLACE.
PAISSTSEGIVG DS COREL ONY eee eam rh tareeee ale ete REXFORD G. TUGWELL.
Director of scventi fice Worke = == = 2 eee A. F. Woops.
Dir ectoreOfeHulensvone WOnicne a= = ee ae C. W. WARBURTON.
Director of Personnel and Business Admin- W. W. STOCKBERGER.
istration.
IDORAHOP Of J OM WO Ore = ee M.S. EISENHOWER.
IS OULETLON ees Saar reapers k Street gaye aE = SpetTH THOMAS.
Bureau of Agricultural Economics_____-___- Nits A. OLsEn, Chief.
Bureau of Agricultural Engineering____---- S. H. McCrory, Chief.
URC OUN Ope ANTM CLS UGUSUT = 5 =e eee eee JoHN R. MoutueEr, Chief.
BuUnea: Of VOLOgICal ISUirVeYy ae oe eae Pauut G. Repineton, Chief.
Bureau of Chemisiryand Soilsa.= 222 = ae H. G. Knieut, Chief.
Office of Cooperative Extension Work_____-_-- C. B. Smiru, Chief.
LSUTEAU Of OU LGU SU yma a ee ne O. E. Rep, Chief.
TS UGC CUO TtOMOLOG Yaa ae te 3 ee Lge A. Strong, Chief.
Ovfice of Hapervment Stations === 22 = James T. JARDINE, Chief.
Hood and Drug Administration= 222222 is WALTER G. CAMPBELL, Chief.
PROT. CS UBS COVE Cet re ap a ope cn ROS Eee Ee FERDINAND A. Srucox, Chief.
Grain Futures Administration 22-322 JeWis dee Dunn. Chvep:
Bur COU Of LONE LiCONMOMUES === ns LovIsE STANLEY, Chief.
TS CORA or he epee ar a See eas CLARIBEL R. Barnett, Librarian.
| BIER LORI OH I AK Ohad COIS A) ae ee as WiuuiaAM A. Taytor, Chief.
Biureau,-of lant Ouaranvines «22. aes sae A. 8. Hoyt, Acting Chief.
BULeGU Of eleubit Col OAS a a es Tuomas H. McDona.p, Chief.
WiCGt Creu COS ae Dee a paige eae CuHaARLEs F, Marvin, Chief.
Agricultural Adjustment Administration___. GroRGE N. PEEK, Administrator.
This circular is a contribution from
Bureau of Chemistry and Soils_____-------- H. G. Kniaut, Chief.
SOtlelnvuesttg ayo s === ae ee A. G. McCatu, Chief.
DivistOn 0}, SOUS UTC a = C. F. Marsut, Principal Soil
Scientist, in Charge.
30
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1933
Tor sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. - - - - - - Price 5 cents
“
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