Research on process of cutting superficial roots in trees

Abstract

The subject of this work resides in the current challenges in the field of fruit growing, stipulated in a series of documents developed at the European level, on the one hand, and the existing situation at world level, on the other hand, according to which the fruit growing field is continuously developing in accordance with the market requirements, the development trends and the level of endowment with technical means of the addressed sector. Another aspect is the need, for the distribution chain of fruit to the consumer, for the quantities delivered to be constant, a situation that is satisfied by the level of annual fruit production. For this, a series of maintenance works must be applied to fruit crops, in accordance with the latest technologies adopted by the world’s major fruit producers. Recent research in fruit growing has demonstrated that the sectioning of a part of the root system of the trees, correlated with the cuts made in the crown, is beneficial, it contributes to keeping the small size of the trees and to maintaining the growth of the roots within the limit of the nutrition space of each tree. The application of cutting the roots to trees is one of the works that leads to the achievement of an optimal management of the annual fruit production, the mechanical removal of the roots being necessary when the yield of the fruit plantations is reduced. The paper presents a brief presentation of the current state regarding the provision of technical means for cutting at the root level, adopted solutions and a presentation of the work process of the existing equipment. It also presents an innovative equipment for cutting tree roots, the adopted technical solutions, the work process and a mathematical calculation to optimize it, results and conclusions.