M. Abdolahipour - Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
A. A. Kamgar-Haghighi - Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
A. R. Sepaskhah - Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
S. Zand-Parsa - Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
T. Honar - Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.

The changes in Root Length Density (RLD) of rainfed fig trees due to supplemental irrigation were studied during two growing seasons in Estahban, southern Iran, with objective of finding out the optimum position, time, and amount of supplemental irrigation. Irrigation position treatments were: (۱) In a micro-catchment close to tree trunks; (۲) Inside the tree canopies (۱-۱.۱ m from tree trunks); and (۳) Outside the tree canopies (۲.۱-۲.۲ m from tree trunks). Irrigation time treatments included: (a) In early spring and (b) In mid-summer; and the treatments of irrigation amount were: (i) No supplemental irrigation (control), (ii) ۱,۰۰۰, and (iii) ۲,۰۰۰ L per tree. Results showed that the highest RLD in different irrigation amounts occurred at ۱۵-۴۵ cm depth during late winter and late spring. However, during summers, the high RLD occurred ۱۵ cm lower at ۳۰-۶۰ cm depth. Irrigation water treatments of ۱,۰۰۰ and ۲,۰۰۰ L per tree increased RLD values by ۱۱.۳ and ۱۹.۳%, respectively, in late spring and ۱۰.۵% and ۱۴.۷%, respectively, in late summer, compared with the rainfed treatment. Whereas this increase generally occurred in the wetted area; supplemental irrigation out of tree canopy could develop the root horizontal extension to a greater distance. Lower temporal variation in RLD profile was obtained for depths deeper than ۷۵ cm, which was in agreement with soil water content variations. Supplemental irrigation applied out of tree canopy with ۲,۰۰۰ L per tree (۲۰۰ m۳ ha-۱) during early spring is recommended to improve root development of fig trees in drought prone rainfed areas.

Drought, Ficus carica L., Scheduling supplemental irrigation, Soil water content.