ROOT SYSTEM ADAPTATION OF PISTACIA ATLANTICA SUBSP. ATLANTICA FOR TEXTURAL VARIATIONS OF ITS SOIL: CASE OF MERGUEB’S POPULATION (M’SILA, ALGERIA)

Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica (Atlas pistachio) is the only tree of North-African steppe.
It is described like a fossil tree and this Anacardiaceae is dioecious.
It can reach to great dimensions (25 m height and 5 m circumference). We can find it essentially in “dayas” (alluvial depressions) or following hydrographic network of those areas.
The study of the responses of its root system for textural variations of soil, allowed us to deduce that the young pistachio emit an orthogéotrope seminal root pivot.
It disappears and organize itself according to soil texture.
If the soil is sandy, so less humid and less compact, a few roots plunge deeply looking for moisture resources and more stability; others roots continuous growing less deeply in the soil.
If the soil is loamy, so more humid and more compact, roots still grows less deeply and develop an horizontal root network, but as it became old, it can sent out a powerful and deeply roots looking for moisture and best anchorage.

V International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds

A. Limane , N. Smail-Saadoun

Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica, root’s adaptations, aridity, textural variations, dayas, El-Mergueb reserve, Algerian steppes

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.912.33