What are the latest growing conditions for Shatang mandarin?
Shatang mandarin is a relatively well-known variety of citrus. Its flesh is smooth and fiberless, with a fresh, sweet taste, and it is deeply loved by people of all ages across our country. In recent years, the growing prospects of Shatang mandarin have attracted much attention, but due to the limitations of its growing conditions, its planting area has consistently remained relatively small. So what conditions does Shatang mandarin need to grow? Let's take a look.
1. Soil requirements
Shatang mandarin has a fairly wide adaptability to soil. Red-yellow soil, sandy beach and coastal mudflat can all be used for planting, and it can grow in soil with a pH value of 4.5-8, but a pH value of 5.5-6.5 is preferable. The root system of Shatang mandarin requires a relatively high oxygen content during growth, so when planting, try to choose soil that is loose in texture, rich in organic matter and well drained. If the soil is heavy and poorly drained, it is very easy to cause soil compaction, which affects the root respiration of Shatang mandarin, resulting in poor growth, reduced yield and quality, and a more sour fruit taste.
2. Temperature requirements
Shatang mandarin likes a warm environment and is afraid of high temperatures. A high-temperature environment is unfavorable for the growth of Shatang mandarin; generally, when the temperature is above 37 degrees, the root system of the plant will stop growing. Temperature also has a certain effect on fruit quality. When grown at suitable temperatures, its sugar content and soluble solids will increase as the temperature rises, and the acidity will also decrease, giving better quality. Its suitable growing temperature is between 12.5-37 degrees. During autumn flower bud differentiation, day and night temperatures of around 20 degrees and 10 degrees are required. Once the temperature falls below zero, varying degrees of freezing damage may occur, and in severe cases the plant may freeze to death directly.
3. Light requirements
Shatang mandarin is a tree species with very strong shade tolerance, but if you want to obtain high yields, you still need to provide sufficient light. Generally, it can grow normally in areas with 1200-2000 hours of annual sunshine. When grown in areas with good light conditions and sufficient heat, its fruit has high sugar content, low acid content and a high sugar-acid ratio.
4. Water requirements
Shatang mandarin is suitable for planting in tropical and subtropical regions with annual precipitation of around 1000 millimeters. However, because rainfall is unevenly distributed, artificial watering is often needed to supplement water. During production and cultivation, the relative water content of the soil should preferably be controlled at around 60%-80%, and once it falls below 60%, watering should be done in time. In heavy rain weather, this can cause soil waterlogging or a high groundwater level, and for orchards with poor drainage it may cause root rot and death, so drainage measures should be well implemented.
The above is an introduction to the growing conditions of Shatang mandarin. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.