Objective: The spatial distribution characteristics of jujube tree fine roots in the jujube-cotton intercorpping were analyzed in order to provide the basic documents for constructing the model of water uptake by roots, and for determining the width of jujube protection and improving irrigation and fertilization technology. Method: Root excavation was used and a soil sample for each side of the live root was picked, cleaned, dried, sorted, scanned. Specialized software was used to measure and analyze the root length and other indicators. Result: (1) In the vertical direction, jujube trees fine roots are mainly distributed in the soil layer of 0-120 cm, accounting for 87.09% of the total; (2) in the horizontal direction, they are mainly distributed in the range of 0-150 cm between the jujube trees, accounting for 83.67% of the total amount; (3) according to the distribution of cotton roots, jujube and cotton roots are mainly distributed in the range of 0-150 cm between the jujube trees at the depth of 0-80 cm of the soil layer. Conclusion: Establishment of protection for root growth of the jujube trees played an extremely important role in the relief of the water and nutrient competition between cotton and jujube trees, but the width of protection setting is still worthy of further consideration, which would be involved in the comprehensive judgments of jujube tree age, crown, etc. In view of the present test situation, the zone of fertilization to jujube trees should be within the range of 100-150 cm without changing the test protection.
