How to Manage Orah Mandarin During the Fruit Enlargement Stage? A Full Breakdown of the Latest Management Key Points

Every year, August-October is the peak fruit enlargement period for Orah mandarin, and also a period of substantial autumn growth. At this time, the nutritional conflict between fruit development and autumn shoot growth is more pronounced. To achieve the goals of high yield, sweet taste, and good storability, management must be strengthened during the enlargement stage. Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.

1. Strengthen Fertilization

To balance the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of Orah mandarin, balanced fertilization is needed. For example, for trees that are tall, bear many fruits, and have weak vegetative growth, heavy application of fruit-strengthening fertilizer is required, with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers reasonably and effectively combined, so as to meet the nutritional needs of both vegetative growth and reproductive growth. For small-year trees that bear few fruits and have excessive vegetative growth, fertilization should be controlled, especially nitrogen application, to prevent excessive vegetative growth and improve fruit quality. During the fruit enlargement stage, insist on combining ground fertilization with foliar fertilization.

2. Drought Resistance and Waterlogging Prevention

July-August is the fruit enlargement stage and autumn shoot growth peak period for Orah mandarin. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River growing areas, it is easily affected by autumn drought, often causing undersized fruit, sunburn, fruit cracking, and fruit drop, seriously reducing fruit quality and yield. In southern and coastal or southwestern regions, heavy rain may occur during this period. If rainfall is excessive, the fruit is prone to cracking due to rapid enlargement, and this damage cannot be ignored either. Therefore, drought prevention and water management during the fruit enlargement stage are extremely critical. If drought occurs, timely irrigation is necessary; if heavy rain occurs, timely drainage and waterlogging prevention are necessary.

3. Improve Quality

In the late fruit enlargement stage and ripening stage, spraying foliar fertilizer and hormones can effectively improve fruit quality: ① 0.2%-0.3% Baume lime sulfur mixture; ② 10mg/kg concentration 2,4-D plus 2% lime water mixed solution; ③ 0.5g-0.7g/kg paclobutrazol or 18/kg chlormequat; ④ 0.03%-0.05% rare earth solution; ⑤ 300-500 times rice vinegar solution; ⑥ coloring and sweetening agent. All of the above substances can inhibit autumn shoot growth, reduce nutrient consumption, promote fruit enlargement, increase fruit sugar content, and promote early fruit ripening.

4. Pest and Disease Control

During the fruit enlargement stage of Orah mandarin, the main pests and diseases include resin disease, rust mites, anthracnose, scale insects, red spiders, fruit-piercing moths, etc. They should be dealt with promptly when found, and preventive measures should also be taken routinely, so as to avoid fruit drop and field disease incidence before harvest.

The above is an introduction to the management key points for Orah mandarin during the fruit enlargement stage. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.