Reasons for Small Mandarin Orange Fruit and Remedial Measures

Mandarin orange is a citrus variety with very high market demand, has a relatively large planting area in our country, and is welcomed by many people. When planting mandarin oranges, if management is improper, the phenomenon of undersized fruit is very likely to occur, seriously affecting yield and commodity value. So what causes undersized mandarin orange fruit? And how should it be remedied? Now let's take a look together with the editor at the reasons for undersized mandarin orange fruit and the remedial measures!

I. Insufficient Nutrients

1. Causes

In many cases, the main reason for undersized mandarin orange fruit is insufficient nutrients. Too little trench fertilization in spring, insufficient topdressing amount, and too long intervals between topdressings can all lead to a lack of nutrients in mandarin oranges and the appearance of small fruit. Moreover, in many cases it is not because of too little fertilization, but because the right fertilizer was not applied. For example, some fruit growers only apply urea when topdressing, and urea is a nitrogen fertilizer. If only nitrogen fertilizer is applied, it can only enhance the tree vigor of mandarin oranges, but will not grow fruit. And if the fruit tree has too many branches and leaves, it will compete for the nutrients for fruit growth, resulting in phenomena such as fruit drop and small fruit.

2. Remedial Measures

Therefore, we must fertilize scientifically, not only increasing the fertilization amount, but also applying the right fertilizer. Every fruit must absorb comprehensive and sufficient nutrients. For example, although nitrogen fertilizer can enhance tree vigor and promote the sprouting of shoots, attention must be paid to the timing of nitrogen fertilizer application. When preserving flowers and fruits, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied should be reduced, while when putting out new shoots, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be appropriately increased. After the mandarin orange fruit enters the color-changing stage, compound fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer should be appropriately increased to promote fruit expansion and color change.

II. Excessive Fruit Set

1. Causes

Excessive fruit set is also a main reason for undersized mandarin orange fruit. In order to increase yield, many fruit growers will intensify efforts to preserve flowers and fruits. Continuously spraying fruit-preserving agents and repeatedly carrying out girdling and other practices that inhibit shoot growth lead to excessive fruit set on the tree. Blindly increasing the fruit set is actually very unfavorable. Excessive fruit set will lead to insufficient space for fruit growth, nutrients will not keep up with the fruit load, and the fruit will also be too small due to insufficient nutrients.

2. Remedial Measures

It is certainly not wrong to want to increase yield, but the amount must be well controlled. Too much fruit will not only fail to increase yield, but will also affect fruit sales and reduce planting benefits. Therefore, if the fruit set is excessive, flowers and fruits should be thinned in time. Especially after the fruit-stabilizing period has passed, manual fruit thinning should be carried out. Under normal circumstances, the maximum fruit set on one branch must not exceed 10, and it is best to keep it at around 5-6. Provide sufficient growth space for each fruit, increase single fruit weight, and ensure commodity value.

The above is a brief introduction to the reasons for undersized mandarin orange fruit and the remedial measures. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!