Detailed Explanation of Key Field Management Techniques for Navel Orange
Navel oranges are cultivated in many parts of China because they taste good and are highly nutritious, and consumers are quite willing to buy them. The vitamin content in navel oranges is very high, and they have a certain preventive effect especially against scurvy. The value of navel oranges is not only reflected in their edible use; they can also be placed at home as bonsai to decorate the environment. If you grow navel oranges, you must master the key points of field management techniques, so as to improve the yield and quality of navel oranges. Let us learn about them together below.
I. Soil Management
It is already summer now, with high temperatures and abundant rainfall, and navel oranges are prone to fruit cracking, so soil management is very important. Normally, irrigation during drought and drainage during flooding should be done well, so as to benefit the growth of navel orange fruit and reduce the occurrence of fruit cracking.
II. Pruning Work
1. Cut off the weakened branch groups on the outer periphery of the canopy, while retaining the stronger or moderately vigorous branch groups. At the same time, retain leafy branches as much as possible so that the tree vigor can recover as quickly as possible.
2. For trees with weakened vigor and most leaves shed, the main branches and secondary main branches that do not meet the shaping requirements should be sawed off, and at the same time the retained lateral branch groups should be shortened. Timely pinch off the newly sprouted shoots to promote branching, so that a new canopy can be quickly formed.
3. In early spring, carry out renewal pruning on old trees, and at the same time seal the pruning cuts with wax after pruning, and also whitewash the trunk. After budding in spring, protect and shape the new shoots.
III. Weeding Methods
You can use 20 ml of 20% Starane emulsifiable concentrate mixed with one sprayer of water to spray and remove malignant weeds in the orchard, such as bamboo-leaf grass, alligator weed, wild mugwort, etc. However, the herbicide Starane is a selective stem-and-leaf herbicide and is only effective on broadleaf weeds. Using Starane can not only effectively kill malignant weeds such as alligator weed, but also satisfy the cultivation of orchard grass cover.
IV. Pest and Disease Control
Common pests and diseases of navel oranges include black citrus whitefly, leaf-rolling caterpillars, scale insects, red and yellow spiders, anthracnose, sooty mold, etc. The pesticides used for different diseases or pests differ. For example, if navel oranges suffer from pests such as black citrus whitefly, leaf-rolling caterpillars, and scale insects, Lorsban emulsifiable concentrate is generally diluted for control, and spraying can generally be repeated once every three weeks. If they suffer from anthracnose or sooty mold, wettable powder can be diluted for control, and spraying can generally be repeated once every half a month.
V. Fertilization Methods
1. In spring, boron fertilizer should be broadcast before budding. For adult navel orange trees, generally use ten grams per plant per year, and for small trees under three years old, generally use five grams per plant per year. The boron fertilizer is required to contain more than 11% pure boron. Add an appropriate amount of sand, mix well, and spread it evenly in the tree plate. It is also not advisable to use organic fertilizer mixed with boron fertilizer.
2. During the growing season, spray boron fertilizer on the leaf surface. Spray boron fertilizer two to three times (0.1-0.2%). The first time is in April and May, and the second and third times are from June to August. The boron content should be no less than 13%.
3. Correctly identify boron fertilizer. Fake boron fertilizer with severely insufficient boron content is the main reason for severe boron deficiency in navel orange trees in some areas.