Plants differ in their root systems and this enable some of them to adapt to and/or tolerate different conditions such as drought or soil types. Cashews tolerate a wide range of soil types because of extensive lateral root system and the deep taproot system which can reaches several metres in length and can sustain the tree through long dry seasons.
Different crops have different growing requirements. Initially the requirements are based on their native range. Man selects or breeds individuals with specific traits that might change these requirements. Growing requirements include water, light, nutrient levels (quantity and proportion), and soil properties. It can also include the presences of other species, like mycorrhyzal fungi for example.
I guess the roots of these fruit crops have enormous capability in anchoring in soils underlain by weathered rock systems.
Plants differ in their root systems and this enable some of them to adapt to and/or tolerate different conditions such as drought or soil types. Cashews tolerate a wide range of soil types because of extensive lateral root system and the deep taproot system which can reaches several metres in length and can sustain the tree through long dry seasons.
IS there any chemcials secretion by these plants which break rocks ? Dilip Kumar Pal A.M.R. Abdel-Mawgoud Timothy A Ebert
The answer is yes, slowly. The action is both mechanical through turgor pressure and chemical through root exudates. Breaking down rock is one way to get additional nutrients in a nutrient poor soil. However, this method will only support slow growth. The plant may produce fewer fruit compared to a tree that gets ample nutrition.
There is two types of roots in a plant root system. one mainly for mechanical supporting and cracking the soil by turgor pressure and the other is fine lateral roots with a main job to absorb water and nutrients fro the root-zone. The latter one is the one responsible of exudates of the roots to make the nutrients more soluble and available for the plant.
which chemicals exudates are released by those trees Youssef Sassine A.M.R. Abdel-Mawgoud Dilip Kumar Pal Timothy A Ebert
I think that answer is best found by experimentation. The composition of the exudates will be a function of the soil, phenotype, and current stress levels.
Organic acids release by the plant roots are expected to break the rock underlain.
Because of hardiness of such plants and their physiological change in behavior due to change in soil atmosphere (hard pan or stoniness etc) these plants secrets some organic exudates.
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