Soil and physiographic characteristics important to mango production on Vertisols, Israel.
Magier J.
Author Affiliation: Jewish Agency Agricultural Settlement Department, Gaililee Region, Safed, Israel.
Geoderma 42 : 339-352
Abstract : A 2-year investigation was conducted into the suitability of heavy clayey Vertisols on slopes surrounding Lake Kinneret for mango production. Thriving plantations were observed on most of the Vertisols but poor tree growth occurred on some sites, located along narrow strips of concave slopes or on large flat terraces. Vertisols in these locations were characterized by comparatively high moisture contents at field capacity and poor aeration in the root zone; these factors were shown to be limiting production. Profile characteristics are described and laboratory analyses presented for the 14 field plots studied.