How much does a ponkan mandarin sapling cost? A full breakdown of 2020 cultivation techniques
Although the name of the ponkan mandarin is hard to pronounce, its taste is by no means bad; it even combines color, aroma and flavor, and it is quite popular in the market, which makes it a viable planting option for growers. So in 2020, how much does a ponkan mandarin sapling cost? What cultivation techniques are there?
I. How much does a ponkan mandarin sapling cost in 2020
The price of ponkan mandarin saplings in Cangxi County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan is 3.5 yuan per plant; the price in Jianyang City, Chengdu is 5.47 yuan per plant; the price in Jianyang City, Chengdu is 3.5 yuan per plant.
The price of ponkan mandarin saplings in Xiangshan County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang is 10 yuan per plant; the price in Jindong District, Jinhua City is 4 yuan per plant.
The price of ponkan mandarin saplings in Jianshui County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan is 3 yuan per plant.
The price of ponkan mandarin saplings in Liubei District, Liuzhou City, Guangxi is 2.5 yuan per plant.
The above are all reference prices; market prices fluctuate due to many factors, so the actual price at the time shall prevail.
II. Ponkan mandarin cultivation techniques
1. Expanding the planting holes and improving the soil
Given the characteristics of ponkan mandarin, such as high yield, abundant fruit, a long fruit-bearing period, and a large demand for nutrients and water, transplanted ponkan mandarin saplings need their planting holes expanded and filled with green manure. The hole is 2 m long, 1 m wide and 60-80 cm deep. When backfilling the expanded hole, fill it in 3 layers with mountain grass, decomposed farmyard manure and cake fertilizer: 150 kg of mountain grass, 100 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 5 kg of cake fertilizer, and 1 kg each of hair and lime per hole.
2. Fertilization
Fertilization is mainly organic fertilizer, supplemented with compound fertilizer. Every year in April-May, when root growth is vigorous, apply 900-1500 kg of decomposed natural farmyard manure (such as chicken manure, pig manure, cow manure, sheep manure, human excrement and urine, or biogas slurry, etc.) per 667 sq m. Use the strip fertilization method, that is, open strip trenches between rows and between plants, about 30 cm deep, and cover with soil after fertilization. For decomposed human excrement and urine or biogas slurry, evenly dig 6-10 holes of 20-30 cm slightly outside the drip line of the canopy, and cover with soil after the excrement and urine or biogas slurry dries. For fruit-bearing trees producing 80 kg per 667 sq m, apply compound fertilizer (nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium = 15:15:15) 3-4 times a year, 2-3 kg each time.
3. Pruning
In combination with winter pruning, cut off the central trunk and excess sub-main branches and side branches, suppress apical dominance, and promote the development of surrounding branches, so that the trunk forms an angle of 60-70° with the ground and the secondary main branches form an angle of 10-15° with the main branches. In summer, remove tender shoots and cut off water sprouts and overly dense branches at the top of the canopy and in the inner part, keeping the height between 3-4 m. Prune the tree into an open-center shape, which not only improves light exposure of the tree and increases the fruiting area, but also lowers relative humidity, reduces pests and diseases, dwarfs the tree, and facilitates farming operations.
4. Pest and disease control
The dormant period is one of the best times for control. Because some pests enter dormancy at certain times, their rate of reproduction and egg-laying drops greatly, so producers can use this period to carry out comprehensive pest removal work, laying a solid foundation for control efforts.
Ponkan mandarin has extremely wide planting adaptability and can be grown in most regions across the country, with a relatively high yield per mu. Interested growers can try planting it according to the growing conditions in their own location.