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Irrigation Depth Modulates Root Water Uptake in Subtropical Citrus Orchards: Insights from Stable Isotopes and
Zhenjing Tan1,2,3, Min Li2, You Hu1,3,4
1Rural Water Conservancy Research Institute, Jiangxi Academy of Water Science and Engineering, Nanchang 330029, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Optimizing irrigation depth in orchards is key. Intermediate irrigation depth (50 cm) improved soil water, root growth, and water uptake efficiency in subtropical hilly regions.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Irrigation depth is crucial for soil water and root uptake in orchards.
- Mechanisms are poorly understood in subtropical red-soil hilly regions with high evaporation and shallow water storage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of different irrigation depths on soil water dynamics, root traits, and root water uptake sources.
- To understand how irrigation depth influences water use efficiency in citrus orchards.
Main Methods:
- Field experiment with three irrigation depths (25, 50, 100 cm) in a citrus orchard.
- Soil moisture monitoring, root morphological analysis, dual stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O).
- MixSIAR Bayesian mixing model to determine root water uptake sources.
Main Results:
- Intermediate irrigation (50 cm) optimized soil water content in the 40-120 cm layer and enhanced root growth.
- Shallow irrigation (25 cm) led to surface drying and increased reliance on surface water (up to 93%).
- Intermediate irrigation promoted balanced water uptake from multiple soil layers, increasing water use efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Irrigation depth significantly impacts soil moisture, root development, and water uptake strategies.
- Optimizing subsurface irrigation depth is crucial for improving water-use efficiency in subtropical orchards.
- Intermediate irrigation depth is recommended for stabilizing water availability and reducing evaporative losses.
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