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Create Soil-Free Tree Production for Challenging Environments

Many regions suitable for tree production have poor soils, soil-borne diseases, or soil degradation that limits traditional orchard establishment, while container growing often limits tree size and productivity. The challenge is developing soil-free tree production systems that can support full-size productive trees while avoiding soil-related problems and enabling tree production in previously unsuitable areas. This requires innovations in root support systems, nutrition management, water delivery, and container design for large plants. Current container tree production often compromises tree size and productivity, while soil problems continue to limit orchard expansion in many regions. Technical barriers include developing root support systems for large trees, managing nutrition and water for soil-free systems, and creating economically viable large-scale soil-free tree production. Success would enable tree production in areas with poor soils, reduce soil-borne disease problems, allow precise nutrition control, and expand horticultural production to previously unsuitable areas.

Applied Sciences, Specialized Agriculture, Horticulture