To explain the concept you need to first understand how a root system matures. Root growth can be illustrated using an "S" curve. In the graph to your left, notice the three stages of root development; early growth, fast growth, slow growth.
During the slow growth period the Air-Prune® tray suspends root elongation and promotes branching. More root branching, or expansion results in better stands with a higher quality and quantity of fruit.
The tray is injection molded from a highly durable material that can withstand many years of use. Instead of discarding or recycling the single-use trays, you are being ungovernability conscious by re-using these trays year after year.
As the tips of the roots reach the tray screen they are exposed to air. Hence, the term AIR-PRUNING. This action encourages more roots to sprout. In a conventional tray the roots tend to keep on growing and spiraling in the cell, thereby discouraging root expansion. Below is a cross-section of the air-pruning tray system which illustrates the shape of an individual cell, air-pruning and root branching.
With the screen removed, plants are removed from the bottom of the tray, for use with automatic greenhouse transplanters with computer controlled indexing and impulse vacuum systems.
This illustration compares root formation and growth media utilization in air-pruning and conventional non air-pruning tray cell. With the screen removed, plants are removed from the bottom of the tray, for use with automatic greenhouse transplanters with computer controlled indexing and impulse vacuum systems.
