COMPATIBILITY OF SELECTED APPLE ROOTSTOCKS WITH MASSACHUSETTS SOILS 

 Peter L.M. Veneman, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



Orchard Soils 



A good orchard soil should be deep and well aerated, yet capable of 

 holding sufficient moisture to meet the water needs of fruit trees, even 

 during prolonged dry spells. Soils with clayey or compacted subsoils lack 

 large pores, which may result in a restriction of the oxygen supply to the 

 roots. Tree roots often tolerate some submergence during the dormant 

 season, but this water should have dissipated by the time growth starts in 

 the spring. Tree growth and fruit production otherwise tend to be poor on 

 such soils. Although some of these limitations can be overcome tiiy soil 

 modifications, such as artificial drainage or by subsoil loosening, most of 

 these measures are expensive and in the case of compacted subsoils effective 

 only for a limited time. 



Prior to purchase of any trees the soil should be examined by a 

 qualified soil scientist to determine whether or not the soil is suitable 

 for growing fruit trees. Soils which have orange-reddish and grayish 

 mottles, or which have predominantly gray colors within 3 feet of the soil 

 surface most likely have problems with excessive seasonal wetness and should 

 be rejected as an orchard site. Gravelly and coarse sandy soils on the 

 other hand lack sufficient water storage capacity and are subject to drought 

 during prolonged dry spells. 



The ideal orchard soil should have a dark, organic-rich topsoil. The 

 subsoil should be capable of retaining sufficient amounts of water to 

 sustain unlimited grov/th even during prolonged dry periods, while on the 

 other hand being permeable enough to rapidly conduct excess soil water. 



Careful observation of the natural vegetation growing on or adjacent to 

 the site selected for the orchard can be helpful in determining the suitabi- 

 lity of the soil for fruit trees. Pitch pine and scrub oak indicate gra- 

 velly soil which is excessively drained and subject to drought. Red maple, 

 alder, and willow indicate a soil which is poorly drained and excessively 

 wet. Sugar maple and white ash do best on a deep fertile, well-drained soil 

 of good water-holding .capacity. 



Matching Rootstock and Soil 



Size-controlling rootstocks in general are more demanding than seedling 

 rootstocks in respect to drainage, depth of soil, and water holding capa- 

 city. Therefore, when deciding on which rootstock to use, it is very impor- 

 tant to know the soil type(s) of the land to be planted. The proper match 

 between rootstock and soil may be the difference between the success or 

 failure of the planting. 



