Detailed Explanation of Lemon Tree Planting Techniques and Management Methods
Lemon is a plant of the genus Citrus in the family Rutaceae, native to Southeast Asia. Its main producing areas are now the United States, Italy, Spain and Greece, and it is also cultivated in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places in China. It is rich in citric acid, so it is known as the “citric acid warehouse” and has high planting value. Let us take a look at lemon tree planting techniques below!
Lemon Tree Planting Conditions
Lemon prefers warmth, tolerates shade, is not cold-resistant, and also fears heat. It is suitable for cultivation in subtropical regions with warm winters and cool summers. The suitable annual average temperature is 17-19°C, the annual effective accumulated temperature (≥10°C) is above 5500°C, the average temperature in January is 6-8°C, and the extreme minimum temperature is above -3°C. The annual rainfall is above 1000 mm, and the annual sunshine hours are above 1000 hours. It is suitable for planting on warm gentle slopes with deep soil layers and good drainage. The most suitable soil pH for lemon is between 5.5 and 7.0. The plant grows relatively fast, with a height of 3-6 m, and has a relatively large fertilizer requirement. It sprouts, blooms and bears fruit multiple times a year, and the yield often varies greatly depending on the quality of management.
Lemon Tree Grafting Propagation
1. Cut grafting: Cut grafting is mostly used in spring. The grafting effect is better when the sap begins to flow. In the Sichuan and Chongqing areas, grafting can be done in the half month before and after the Rain Water solar term, and in Guangdong the survival rate of grafting within 40 days after the Beginning of Spring is high. In years with low temperatures, the grafting time can be postponed to May. Cut grafting is simple to operate, sprouts quickly and grows rapidly, and can reach the specification for leaving the nursery in the same year. It can be planted in autumn or the following spring.
2. Side grafting: Side grafting is generally used for autumn grafting and can be carried out from after the Rain Water solar term to early November. The survival rate of side grafting is relatively high. If it does not survive the first time, it can be grafted again 2-3 times. The scion cutting method is the same as that for cut grafting. At about 10 cm above the ground, choose a smooth surface and cut vertically from top to bottom for about 2 cm. The cutting depth should preferably not damage or only slightly damage the xylem. After making the opening, insert the scion immediately and bind and seal the joint tightly from bottom to top with plastic film strips.
3. Bud grafting: Bud grafting can be divided into two types: small bud cut grafting and small bud side grafting. Small bud cut grafting is mainly carried out in spring, and small bud side grafting is mainly carried out in autumn. Bud grafting is fast, highly efficient, and causes small wounds on the rootstock, making it easy to heal. When cutting the bud, hold the scion upside down with the left hand, hold the knife with the right hand, keep the blade flat, and cut from 1 cm below the bud to 0.5 cm above the bud, so that the bud carries a small amount of xylem. Then use the knife to make a vertical downward cut on the scion and remove the bud piece.
Lemon Tree Orchard Establishment and Planting
1. Orchard establishment on flat land: When using paddy fields to establish a lemon orchard, high furrows should be made along the slope for drainage and field drying. After the soil is dried white the following year, mark fixed points according to the planting row and plant spacing, and build steamed-bun-shaped soil mounds with a height of 40-50 cm and a base diameter of about 1 m.
2. Orchard establishment on sloping land: For orchard establishment on sloping land, measures such as building contour terraces, contour trenches or fish-scale pits can be adopted to solve soil fertility improvement and soil and water conservation. Contour terraces are suitable for slopes of 100-25 degrees, contour trenches are suitable for slopes of 6-100 degrees with deep soil layers, and fish-scale pits are suitable for steep slopes and complex terrain where it is relatively difficult to build level terraces or contour trenches.
3. Lemon planting: The planting density is generally 3×4 m, with 55 plants per mu being suitable. The planting period is generally spring and autumn, and autumn transplanting should be carried out in September-October. Before planting, dig planting holes (trenches) with a specification of 60×60×60 cm. Apply 30-50 kg of organic fertilizer and 0.5-1 kg of superphosphate per hole, or more than 20 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure water. Mix the fertilizer with the soil evenly and cover with soil to form a planting mound 20 cm above the ground. At planting, remove the grafting film from the seedlings, trim damaged roots, and cut off excessively long main roots and tender late-autumn shoots. Make a small hole on the planting mound, place the seedling in it, cover with soil while arranging the roots, gently lift the seedling roots, and gently press the soil so that the roots are in close contact with the soil. The planting depth should be consistent with the mud mark during the nursery period, with the root crown exposed above the ground. Water thoroughly to settle the roots, and cover with rice straw, stalks, green manure or plastic film to preserve warmth and moisture.
4. Post-planting management: Seedlings generally need about half a month after planting to survive. During this half month, it is advisable to water frequently and not apply fertilizer. After survival, check frequently to ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged, and promote root and new shoot growth. Only after a small amount of new shoots have grown can clear manure water be applied.
Lemon Tree Young Tree Management
1. Soil management: Every winter slack season, in combination with shallow plowing and soil banking, dig 1-2 fertilization holes 40-60 cm long and 60-80 cm deep outward from the drip line of the tree canopy, apply 100 kg/sq m of compost (or barnyard manure), and mix it evenly with the soil. This is beneficial for cultivating well-developed absorbing roots in young trees and enhancing the tree's nutrient absorption function.
2. Fertilizer and water management: Young trees generally receive 5-10 fertilizer applications per year, following the principle of frequent and light application. The fertilizer types are mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer and human and livestock manure. For planted seedlings, from the sprouting of spring shoots in March to the shoot-pushing period of autumn shoots in September, apply 30% concentration decomposed human and livestock manure water once a month. For one-year-old lemon young trees, generally apply 80 g of nitrogen, 40 g of phosphorus and 30 g of potassium per year, and increase by about 10 g each year thereafter. For 2-4-year-old young trees, the fertilization period is concentrated before the sprouting of each tender shoot. The annual number of fertilizer applications is 5-6 times, and foliar spraying is carried out 3-4 times during the tender shoot period.