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Citrus Project by Radhe Impex
Citrus Project by Radhe Impex
Citrus Project by Radhe Impex
Soil
Citrus can grow well in wide range of soils. Soil properties like soil reaction, soil fertility, drainage, free lime and salt concentrations, etc. are some important factors that determine the success of citrus plantation. Citrus fruits flourish well on light soils with a good drainage. Deep soils with pH range of 5.5 to 7.5 are considered good. However, they can grow in pH range of 4 to 9. Presence of calcium carbonate concentration within feeding zone may adversely affect the growth. Light loam or heavier but well drained sub-soils appears to be ideal for citrus.
Climate
The sub-tropical climate is the best suited for citrus growth and development. Temperature below - 40C is harmful for the young plants. Soil temperature around 250C seems to be optimum for root growth. Dry and arid conditions coupled with well defined summer having low rainfall (ranging from 75cm to 250 cm) are most favourable for the growth of the crop. High humidity favours spread of many diseases. Frost is highly injurious. Hot wind during summer results in desiccation and drop of flowers and young fruits. Darjeeling Mandarin (Khasi Orange type) grows in altitude upto 2000m as it is adapted to a cooler climate.
Varieties
The important varieties of different types of citrus and their respective suitable regions are as under: 1. Mandarin Orange: Kurg (Kurg& Wyned regions), Nagpur (Vidharba region), Darjeeling (Darjeeling region), Khasi (Meghalaya region), Sumthira (Assam), exotic variety - Kinnow (Nagpur, Akola regions, Punjab & adjoining States). 2. Sweet Orange: Blood Red (Haryana , Punjab & Rajasthan), Mosambi (Maharashtra), Satgudi (Andhra Pradesh), exotic varieties - Jaffa, Hamlin & Pineapple (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan), Valencia. 3. Lime/Lemon : Acid Lime: Pramalini, Vikram, Chakradari,PKM1,Selection 49, Seedless lime, Tahiti Sweet Lime: Mithachikra , Mithotra Lemon: Eureka, Lisbon, Villafranca, Lucknow seedless, Assam Lemon, Nepali Round, Lemon 1 Among Mandarin oranges, Nagpur is the most important variety. Mosambi arrives early to mid season and sweeter but less juicy variety Satgudi arrives early in the market. Pramalini, Vikram and PKM1 are highly cluster bearing acid limes developed by ICAR.
Selection of site
The site selected should preferably be nearer to the market centres and roads, besides being agro climatically suitable. Windbreaks should be provided on the sides from which high winds are expected. Plants suitable for providing windbrakes are eucalyptus, jamun, mulberry, shisam, etc.
Planting Material
Planting material is produced by 'T' budding on good stalks like Rampur Lime or Sour Orange. Seedlings are also used in many areas. Nursery beds are prepared on light fertile soils. Selection is done by eliminating weaklings, off types and non uniform seedlings in 2-3 stages in the nursery beds. If certified budwood is not available for propagation, nucellar seedlings may be selected in the nursery beds as they are more vigorous, uniform and virus free. Seedlings may be grown in polythene bags also. They become ready for plantation in the main field after attaining the height of about 30-40 cm after one year. Cutting and air layering are done in lemons.
Plant density:a. Orange: Normal spacing - 6 m x 6 m Plant population - 275 / ha b. Sweet Lime : Normal spacing - 5 m x 5 m Plant population - 400 /ha c. Lime/Lemon Normal spacing - 4.5 m x 4.5 m Plant population - 494 / ha In very light soils, spacing may be 4 m x 4 m. In fertile soils and in high rainfall areas spacing may be 5 m x 5m.
Planting
The best season of planting is June to August. Pits of the size of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm may be dug for planting seedlings. 10 kg of FYM and 500 g of superphosphate may be applied per pit while planting. With good irrigation system, planting may be done in other months also.
Irrigation
Citrus requires life saving watering in the first year during winter and summer. Irrigation improves the plant growth, flowering and fruiting in citrus. It also reduces the fruit crops and increases the fruit size. Under unirrigated condition chances of damage to spring blossom is high and the next crop maturing in October-November may be heavier. Diseases like root rot and collar rot may occur under over irrigated condition and if the collar region is wetted. Light irrigation with high frequency is beneficial. Irrigation water containing more than 1000 ppm salts is injurious. Quantity of water and frequency of irrigation depends on the soil texture and growth stage. Partial drying out of the soil in spring season may be acceptable.
Interculture
Ploughing, spading of basins, weed control, etc., are important inter-culture operations for soil aeration and health. Chemical control of weeds with weedicides like grammaxone, simazine, diurone, terbsal, etc. may also be adopted.
Intercrops
Leguminous vegetables like cow peas, french bean, peas, etc., may be grown in citrus orchards. Intercropping is advisable only during the initial three years.
Diseases
The important diseases of citrus are tristeza, citrus canker, gummosis , powdery mildew , anthracnose, etc. Control measures of these diseases are stated briefly below: 1. Tristeza : Control of aphids and use of cross protected seedlings are recommended. 2. Citrus canker: Cutting of effected twigs followed by spraying of 1% Bordeaux mixture or copper fungicide. Aqueous solution of 500 ppm, streptomycin sulphate is also effective. 3. Gummosis : Scraping of the effected area and application of Bordeaux mixture or copper oxifluoride. 4. Powdery mildew :Dead twigs are to be pruned first. Wettable sulphur 2 g/litre, copper oxchloride - 3 g/litre of water may be sprayed in April and October. 5. Anthracnose : Dried twigs are pruned off first. This to be followed by two sprays of carbendazym @1 g/litre or copper oxy chloride - 3 g/litre fortnightly.
Harvesting
Mature fruits are picked up in 2 - 3 cycles. There may be 2 or 3 crops in a year in summer, rainy season and autumn. Orange is picked when colour starts developing.
Yield
1. Orange: Commences from the 4th/5th year with 40/45 fruits per tree. Stabilises in the 10th year. Average production is about 400-500 fruits per tree after stabilisation. 2. Sweet Orange : Commences from 3rd/4th year with 15 to 20- fruits per tree. Stabilises around the 8th year. Average production is about 175-250 fruits per tree after stabilisation. 3. Lime/Lemon : Commences from the 2nd/3rd year with 50-60 fruits per tree. Stabilises in the 8th year. Average production is about 700 fruits per tree after stabilisation.
Post-harvest management
Sweet orange and mandarin orange may be treated with etherel for degreening and development of colour. At low temperature below 250C low quantity of ethylene can set a change in colour. Pre-cooling of citrus is done by forced air system. Transit temperature for orange is 100C. The storage conditions for each group are stated below. Oranges may be packed in well ventilated CFB boxes - 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm. A mechanical citrus packing line for washing, sorting, size grading, fungicidal treatment for orange and then packing in CFB boxes is also available.
Storage conditions
Mandarin Orange : Orange can be stored at 5-70C with 85-90 % RH for 4-8 weeks. Sweet Orange : Sweet orange can be stored at 5-70C with 85-90% RH for 3-8 weeks. Lime/Lemon: Lime and lemon can be stored for 6-8 weeks at 9-100C storage temperature with 80-90% RH. Limes are subjected to pitting after storage at temperature below 70C. Waxing lime reduces moisture loss. MH treatment may increase shelf life of kagzi lime.
To know about some of the exotic fruit varieties and to buy citrus trees, buy lemon trees you can visit
Add : Bhagwati Compex, Opp. Ice Factory, Ranchhod Nagar 10, Rajkot 360003. Phone : +91-281-6545455 www.radheimpex.com Email: radheimpex@in.com