How to manage citrus in spring? These management points you need to master
In spring, as the temperature warms up, the citrus dormant period ends, and this is exactly the period when citrus buds sprout and shoots grow, sap flows, and flowers bloom and fruit sets. It is also a key period in the year-round management of the orchard. So how should citrus be managed in spring? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.
1. Deep plowing of the soil
Spring is exactly the period when the root system begins to stir, so a comprehensive plowing should be done before this in order to clear weeds, reduce sources of pests and diseases, and also improve soil structure, making the soil loose and breathable, promoting new root germination, and increasing root vitality. However, when plowing, attention should also be paid to depth: for young trees, shallow plowing should be used to avoid damaging the root system. After plowing, soil should be covered in time. At low temperatures, appropriate covering can be done to prevent the root system from freezing injury.
2. Apply sufficient fertilizer
In spring, the new shoots of citrus germinate, and flowering and fruit setting all require relatively large reasons, so it should be managed in time to achieve the purpose of promoting roots and strengthening buds. Generally, 1-2 weeks before spring germination, fertilizer to promote bud germination and shoot growth should be applied. After citrus fruit harvest, the tree's nutrients are heavily consumed. For trees with many fruits, the growth of new roots often lags behind the growth of spring shoots, so the absorption of fertilizer and water is low, and foliar fertilizer should also be sprayed as a supplement. For young trees, foliar spraying is the main method, with ground fertilization as a supplement. Ground fertilization should pay attention to concentration, and must not be broadcast. It should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, matched with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. For adult trees, flowering requires a large amount of nutrients, so before germination, nitrogen fertilizer should be the main fertilizer, matched with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. During the flowering period, potassium fertilizer should be supplemented through foliar spraying, and boron fertilizer should also be maintained in an appropriate amount.
3. Water management
When citrus encounters drought before and after germination and flowering, it should be watered in time to avoid affecting germination and flowering. In spring, there is sometimes a rainy economy, so orchard drainage is even more important. Once drainage is poor, it can easily cause the plant root system to rot. In addition, if the root system is waterlogged, it can also cause yellowing, dead branches, flower drop, and fruit drop, and in severe cases can lead to tree death. Therefore, in spring, attention should be paid to water accumulation, loosening the soil, and increasing soil permeability to facilitate root growth.
4. Shaping and pruning
Spring pruning is beneficial for optimizing tree structure, regulating light, balancing tree vigor, and increasing yield. Generally, for young trees, the purpose is to cultivate tree shape and expand the canopy. Pruning should mainly be light pruning, mainly trunk determination and cultivating main branches. The height of trunk determination and heading back should be 30 cm as appropriate. Before germination, the mature autumn and winter shoots should be tipped or cut back, and overly dense branch groups should be appropriately thinned to expand the canopy. For fruit-bearing trees, according to the principles of ventilation and light transmission and reasonable load, mainly prune fruit stalk branches, dry branches, densely growing branches, crossing branches, and diseased and pest-damaged branches, and retract or cut back long fruiting branches, etc.
The above is an introduction to the key points of spring management of citrus. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.