Title: Red maple root response to improved soil conditions

Summary: This presentation will focus on a sustainable approach to renovating urban soils and root response to this process. We assessed the efficacy of the Root Invigoration™ process and its traditional components (mulch, fertilizer and Airspade® tillage) on 200 red maples (Acer rubrum) at four urban sites The results indicate that trees might respond to improved soil conditions by producing less root growth and reducing the lifespan of fine roots. In a soil environment more conducive for root growth and function, our results indicate that trees seem to allocate less photosynthate to building root tissue, freeing those resources for use elsewhere in the plant.

Kelby Fite, Ph.D., Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory, Charlotte, NC, United States

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