Three Major New Taboos in Citrus Pruning That Fruit Growers Must Note

Under the natural conditions of various regions in China, citrus needs to sprout and send out new shoots multiple times a year. If left to grow freely, the branches and leaves will soon become crowded, and because the canopy becomes dense and closed, light will be insufficient, which will ultimately affect the fruit-setting rate, leading to reduced yield and poor quality. Therefore, it is felt that pruning work needs to be done well, but three taboos should also be noted when pruning. Let's take a look together with the editor.

1. Base it on the biological characteristics of the citrus variety

There are many citrus varieties, so growth and fruiting differ somewhat among varieties. If pruning is not carried out according to variety characteristics but is done blindly and randomly, it will be impossible to bring the role of pruning into play, and it will also damage the trunk, weaken tree vigor, inhibit flowering and fruiting, and cause reduced yield. Because varieties differ, pruning methods will vary somewhat, so before pruning the variety characteristics need to be clearly understood. For pruning a closed canopy, more can be done; for those with sparse early branches and shoots and strong renewal ability, pruning can be less; for those with strong shoot-sprouting ability whose branches and shoots tend to age after fruiting, pruning can be somewhat heavier.

2. Take tree vigor as the premise

Tree vigor is the comprehensive response to various factors. For example, soil, fertilizer and water, and frost disasters will all affect tree vigor. The strength or weakness of tree vigor can generally be judged from the thickness and length of new shoots. Different tree vigor means different flowering, fruiting, and shoot-sprouting ability. When pruning, for plants with flowers, tree vigor can be used; for plants with weak tree vigor and few flowers, prune less; for young trees with irrigation at their tree age, try not to prune.

3. Coordinate with other agricultural measures

⟦NL>If citrus yield is to be increased, comprehensive agricultural measures are needed. Using any single technique alone cannot achieve obvious results. Although pruning can regulate the tree's nutrition and improve the contradiction between flowering and fruiting and shoot growth, if pruning is done alone without strengthening fertilizer and water management and pest and disease control, the goal of high yield still cannot be achieved. Therefore, when pruning, other cultivation measures are also indispensable, and it must coordinate with various agricultural measures to bring out the yield-increasing effect of pruning.

The above is an introduction to the three major taboos of citrus pruning. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.