Detailed Explanation of Key Points in Planting and Management Techniques for Mashui Mandarin

Mashui Mandarin is a specialty of Yangchun City, Guangdong, and also a National Geographical Indication product of China. It is renowned for its beautiful shape, bright color, thin peel, tender melting flesh, few seeds, abundant juice, and sweet aromatic flavor. Below is an introduction to its planting and management techniques.

Mashui Mandarin Planting and Management Techniques:

1. Site Selection and Planting

Mashui Mandarin planting sites require soil texture of loam or sandy loam, soil pH of 6 to 7, organic matter content ≥2%, and soil layer thickness ≥1 m. Generally, areas with an average January temperature below 5°C and frequent frost are not suitable for planting. The suitable planting spacing is 2.5 m × 4 m, with 66 trees planted per mu, and no thinning is needed within 10 years after planting; after 10 years, alternate-row thinning is carried out, changing the row spacing to 5 m × 4 m, which can maintain a peak production period for another 5-10 years.

2. Fertilization

Mashui Mandarin is generally planted in February to March each year before spring buds sprout, or in April to May after spring shoots mature, and in September to October after autumn shoots mature. After planting, different fertilizers are applied according to different periods:

Young trees: Follow the principle of frequent and light application, with root application as the main method and foliar fertilizer as a supplement. After planting, water with settling water; after 1 month, topdressing can begin, applying Sea Elf biological stimulant root-application type + quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer 1-2 times per month; in late October, combined with hole expansion and soil improvement, apply heavy organic fertilizer.

Fruit-bearing trees: Apply pre-flowering fertilizer before spring shoots sprout, mainly nitrogen fertilizer combined with drenching Sea Elf biological stimulant root-application type; fruit-stabilizing fertilizer can be applied sparingly or not at all; fruit-strengthening fertilizer should be applied heavily, with organic fertilizer + balanced or high-potassium compound fertilizer + medium and trace element fertilizer applied in trenches; later, depending on tree vigor, an additional pre-harvest fertilizer may be applied, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and organic fertilizer, supplemented with a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer, to improve fruit quality. In addition to soil fertilization, foliar topdressing should also be combined when preserving flowers and fruits, maturing shoots and branches, poor root growth, temporary fertilizer deficiency due to excessive fruiting, and weak tree vigor.

3. Irrigation

In summer, water should be promptly directed into the orchard to regulate temperature and retain moisture; carry out intertillage and soil loosening to improve water and fertilizer retention capacity, improve the orchard microclimate, reduce fruit drop, and promote fruit enlargement. When the weather suddenly turns wet or dry, fruit cracking is likely to occur, so tree disks should be covered with rice straw or weeds to reduce direct sunlight and water evaporation, lower surface soil temperature, protect the root system, enhance root vitality, and reduce fruit drop. If there is no rain for 10 consecutive days, irrigation should be carried out promptly to meet the fruit's water needs.

4. Pruning

Pruning of young Mashui Mandarin trees before spring shoots sprout should not be too heavy. In summer, under the premise of ensuring fertilizer and water supply, summer shoots should be pinched when they grow to 30 cm to accelerate branching levels; summer pruning of framework branches and extension branches can accelerate branching and speed up the formation of a high-yielding canopy. In addition, in spring, attention should be paid to canopy cultivation; in the early fruiting stage, attention should be paid to controlling summer shoots, timely releasing autumn shoots, and controlling winter shoots.

5. Flower and Fruit Disease Management

Carry out measures to preserve flowers and fruits well, with reasonable fertilization and irrigation. On rainy days, shake off petals to increase the fruit-setting rate, and spray plant growth regulators as appropriate to preserve fruits; pay attention to preventing and controlling the invasion of diseases and pests such as canker, anthracnose, scab, rust mite, red spider mite, and leaf miner.

Mashui Mandarin can be harvested from mid-January to mid-to-late February each year, when the peel turns orange-yellow, and after harvesting, orchard cleaning and fertilization should be carried out promptly.