Stable growth inhibition of potted fig (Ficus carica L.) trees by soil sickness

Abstract

The study was conducted to know a damage progress of soil sickness of fig trees and effect of initial planting conditions on it. Shoot growth of 10liter potted ‘Masui Dauphine’ figs was inhibited with sick soil from the 1st year of planting, and a stable dwarfish growth was maintained form the 2nd to 9th years, with only a few trees dying. The sick soil affected trees planted in 25-­liter pots in June worse than those planted in February, and trees with roots enclosed by non-­woven fabric worse than without it. However, these differences had faded by the 3rd year. The sick soil affected trees in 60­-liter pots in the 1st year of planting worse in smaller rooted cuttings than in larger ones. However, in subsequent years, growth inhibition was not affected by the rooted cutting size. These results suggest that the initial conditions, such as planting timing, physical barriers to rooting, and rooted cutting size, all affect potted fig tree growth in the early growing period, and influence the observed damage caused by sick soil. However in subsequent years, dwarfish growth in sick soil may attain a stable level, which is maintained for many years with very low mortality.