Effect of nursery container type on root attributes in finished 57 L solid-walled containers.
| Nursery containerz | Liner visual imprint ratingy | 3.8 L visual imprint ratingy | 9.5 L visual imprint ratingy | % root ball circumference without rootsx | % root cullw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 1.1 bs | 1.7 b | 2.2 b | 23 b | 7 b |
| SC | 2.9 a | 4.4 a | 4.2 a | 66 a | 64 a |
| Nursery container | % trunk circled inside 57 L peripheryv | Radial root ball symmetryu | No. radiating straight roots to periphery of 57 L containert | % five largest roots grew straightt | |
| PC | 22 b | 4.3 a | 12 a | 65 a | |
| SC | 65 a | 2.1 b | 3 b | 9 b | |
↵z Trees grown in either porous- (PC) or solid-walled (SC) 3.8 L then 9.5 L nursery containers prior to shifting into 57 L solid-walled containers.
↵y Visual rating of root deflection severity at indicated container position with 1 = little imprint or retained “cage” formed by deflected roots, and 5 = strong imprint formed by deflected roots retaining the shape of the container.
↵x Percentage circumference (looking down on the root ball) lacking roots >5 mm diameter.
↵w According to Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants (Anonymous 2015).
↵v Percent trunk circled with roots >3 mm diameter from liner, 3.8, and/or 9.5 position.
↵u Visual rating with 1 = radially asymmetrical distribution of roots with most on one side of root ball, and 5 = radially symmetrical distribution of mother roots (roots growing directly from stem).
↵t Number of roots >3 mm diameter measured just inside the 57 L container wall that grew from trunk at <45 degree angle to substrate surface without making a turn of >60 degrees relative to parent root azimuth at trunk; root diameter measured at trunk.
↵s Means in a column with a different letter are statistically different at P < 0.0004; n = 16 trees averaged across propagation container type due to insignificant interaction with propagation container type.