Growing oranges, Planting, Growing, Grooming, Gathering

Orange Growing Reference Guide:

The next article is devoted to the methods and techniques for growing oranges.

Orange farm

A little about oranges:

Mandarin ( Citrus reticulata ) most common among citrus fruits,. It occupies almost 40% of all citrus growing areas.  The most important commercial citrus fruits are mandarin ( Citrus reticulata ), sweet orange ( Citrus ) and sour lime ( Citrus aurantifolia ), which account for 41, 23 and 23%, respectively, of all citrus fruits produced in the country.

 Orange is rich in vitamin C, A, B and phosphorus. Orange is consumed fresh or in the form of juice, jam, pumpkin and syrup. It is the main source of peeling oils, citric acid and cosmetics with international market value.

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Agroclimatic requirements for orange plantations:

Mandarins grow successfully in all frost-free tropical and subtropical regions up to 1500 meters above sea level. Annual precipitation is 100-120 cm. and temperatures ranging from 10 ° C to 35 ° C are suitable for growing crops .

The climate needed for oranges.
The climate needed for oranges.

Suitable soil for orange plants:

Mandarins are grown in a wide variety of soils, from sandy loam or alluvial soils to loam or deep loam or lateritic / acidic soils in the Deccan Plateau and the northeastern hills. Citrus orchards thrive on light soils with good drainage properties. Deep soils with a pH range of 5,5 to 7,5 are considered ideal. However, they can also be grown in a pH range of 4,0 to 9,0. A high concentration of calcium carbonate in the root zone of the trough can adversely affect growth. Before starting to grow oranges, it is recommended to do a soil test.

Requirements for orange soil.
Requirements for orange soil.

Land preparation in the Orange Plantation:

The land needs to be well plowed and leveled. In hilly areas, planting is done on terraces opposite the slopes, and on such lands a high planting density is possible as more airspace is available than in the plains. Because citrus trees are very susceptible to waterlogging and stagnant water during the rainy season, drainage channels 3-4 feet deep should be provided along the slopes around the garden.

Planting material and orange planting season:

Mandarin multiplies by seed and also vegetatively propagates by T-budding. Seedlings are mostly replanted in July-August after the start of the rainy season. It is advisable to make budding in the last week of January or the first week of February, following the T-shaped or shield method.

Distance requirements for orange plants:

Mandarins are usually planted in holes measuring 50 x 50 x 50 cm. size in a square system with a row spacing of 4,5 to 6 meters, accommodating 350-450 plants / ha. In this model, a placement of 120 plants / acre was considered.

Irrigation of orange plants:

Requires critical watering in the first year. This further reduces the falling of the fruit and increases its size. Under conditions of flooding, diseases such as root rot and neck rot occur. Light watering with high frequency is helpful. Irrigation water containing more than 1000 ppm of salt is hazardous. The amount of water and the frequency of watering depends on the texture of the soil and the stage of growth. Micro-irrigation systems not only save water and nutrients, but also ensure good retention of fruits at crucial stages of crop growth in March – April, even in situations where water is not a constraint. Citrus trees tend to have a higher water requirement than most other subtropical fruits due to their periodic growth and development. The water requirement varies from 900 to 1100 mm. per year depending on location. The water requirement of young (1-4 years old), medium (5-8 years old) and mature (9 and more) mandarins varies from 5 to 15 liters per day, from 35 to 105 liters per day and from 60 to 170 liters. / day respectively.

Irrigation requirements for oranges.
Irrigation requirements for oranges.

Nutritional requirements of orange plants:

The recommended fertilizer dose for N, P and K is shown in the following table:

Age of the plantAnnual fertilization (g / plant)
NпK
11505025
230010050
345015075
4 and above600200100

About one third of the recommended nitrogen dose should be applied through organic fertilizers such as yard manure (FYM), cake, etc. In the case of non-fertile trees, nitrogen should be applied in divided doses during April, August and November; phosphorus in August and November and potassium in November. Nitrogen should be applied in three divided doses in case of fruiting trees during April, August and November, together with 200 g. phosphorus in two divided doses in August and November and 100 grams each. potassium in November for tangerine grown in black clay soil.

Nutrient requirements of an orange.
Nutrient requirements of an orange.

The requirement of orange trees for trace elements:

Trace elements, namely. zinc, copper, manganese, iron, boron and molybdenum are required in large quantities. An inadequate supply of nutrients can cause serious disruptions that can lead to the decline of the entire garden. Delivery of micronutrients should be done by spraying the leaves.

Intercultural activities at Orange Garden:

Plowing, pool hilling, weed control, etc. are important cross-cultural operations for aeration and soil health. Chemical weed control with pre-emergence agents such as diuron (3 kg / ha), simazine (4 kg / ha), glyphosate 4 l / ha, paraquat (2 l / ha), etc. can also be applied.

Intercultural cultivation in the Orange Garden:

In citrus orchards, you can grow legumes such as soybeans, gram, peanuts, cow peas, beans, peas, etc. It is recommended to carry out the mezhkubkovka during the first three to four years after planting.

Training and pruning orange trees:

To enable a strong trunk to grow, you must first remove the shoots up to 40-50 cm above ground level. The center of the plant must remain open. The branches should be well distributed in all directions. Cross-limbs and suckers should be removed early. Bearing trees require little or no pruning. All sick, injured, hanging branches and dead wood must be removed periodically.

Insect pests of oranges:

Devitalization of plants due to poor fruit set, fruit falling off both at the fruiting stage and at the ripening stage, stem sinking, removal of bark, shingles, etc. Due to the attack of various insect pests, viz. citrus black fly, citrus psilla, citrus miner, bark beetle, mealy bugs, citrus aphids, citrus thrips, fruit fly, mites, etc., will reduce the productivity of the tree in terms of producing quality fruit. Spraying with insecticides, viz. monocrotophos, phosphalon, dimethoate, phosphamidone, quinalphos, etc., depending on the type of pest infestation, in most cases proved to be effective.

Diseases of orange plants:

The main registered diseases are late blight, gummos, rot, root and collar rot. Affected plants should be sprayed with Ridomil MZ 72, Bavistin, Benomil, etc. Depending on the type of infestation. 

Mulching orange plants:

Apply dry leaf mulch or rice hulls to a thickness of about 8 cm. in the pool inhibits the growth of weeds and reduces the amount of watering, and also improves the quality of the fruits.

Picking oranges:

Mandarins and sweet oranges  which blooms in January (during the flowering of the mango, the fruits of which are available in October-December. Another crop which blooms in June-July, and the fruits are harvested in February-April. Tangerines and sweet oranges usually take 240-280 days to ripen. Ripe fruits at the stage of color cut off are harvested after 2–3 intervals of 10–15 days.

Harvested oranges
Collected oranges.

Orange yield: 

It starts from the 5th year, bears about 50 fruits on the tree, and stabilizes at the 8th year of life. Average yield of about 700-800 fruits per tree after stabilization. Sweet Orange: Begins around the 5th year, with 40-50 fruits on the tree and stabilizes around the 8th year. Average yield of about 500-600 fruits per tree after stabilization.

Post-harvest activities:

Below is information on post-harvest activities related to orange cultivation:

    1) Sorting 2) Storage 3) Packaging 4) Transportation 5) Marketing.

It’s all about growing oranges, planting techniques and caring for orange plants. Keep growing fruit!.

Anna Evans

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