Liming and root development, nutrition and production of 'Valência' orange on rootstocks and soil tillage systems

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of liming and of rootstocks on root amount, and on the nutrition and yield of 'Valência' orange, in different soil tillage systems. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with split-split-plot arrangement and three replicates. The plots consisted of two soil tillage systems: conventional tillage or minimum tillage. The sub-plots consisted of two liming levels: with or without liming. The sub-sub-plots consisted of three rootstocks: 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia), 'Cleopatra' mandarin (Citrus reshni) and Poncirus trifoliata. The liming-treatment received 3 Mg ha-1 of dolomite limestone before the implantation, and 1.65 Mg ha-1 four years after planting. Fruit production was evaluated during 12 years; Ca and Mg leaf contents were evaluated 13 years after the experiment implantation; and roots and soil chemical attributes, 14 years after the implantation. Soil tillage systems and their interaction with the other factors did not influence the evaluated variables. 'Rangpur' lime showed the highest adaptation to soil acidity, Al and to the lower contents of Ca and Mg, with no response to liming. Poncirus trifoliate showed the lowest adaptation to soil acidity, and lime increased its root amount in 126% and its fruit production in 26.4%.