Citrus Tree Spacing Effects On Soil Water Use, Root Density, And Fruit Yield

Hart, William E.; Gaultney, Larry D.

doi:10.13031/2013.31634

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…However, in all these studies, tree densities were considerably lower than the recommendations (725 trees/ha) for optimizing fruit yield during the early years of production under HLB-endemic conditions in Florida (Morgan and Kadyampakeni, 2012). Considering the positive relationship between tree and root density previously reported for sweet orange in Florida (Whitney et al, 1991), the possibility exists HORTSCIENCE • https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15390-20 for greater fertilizer nutrient recovery and higher fruit yields in young orchards planted at higher densities.…”

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confidence: 73%

“…Although tree growth parameters and foliar nutrient concentrations varied in response to treatments, management practices that in-cluded high tree density and fertigation produced the highest fruit yields. Previous studies have established that increasing tree density can lead to higher fruit yield in young citrus orchards in Florida (Wheaton et al, 1995;Whitney et al, 1991); however, our study was the first long-term trial to evaluate how a young sweet orange orchard would respond to different tree density, fertilization methods, and irrigation systems under HLB-endemic conditions in the Indian River Citrus District.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Singerman et al (2018) reported that establishing new orchards at conventional tree densities (339 trees/ha) in Florida is no longer profitable under the current market conditions, but that planting at higher densities (544-749 trees/ha) can be profitable despite the greater initial investment required. Studies conducted before the arrival of HLB in Florida showed that higher sweet orange tree densities (667-889 trees/ha) resulted in greater fruit yields during early years of production compared with lower densities (370 trees/ha) (Wheaton et al, 1995;Whitney et al, 1991). Preliminary research conducted during the HLB era has shown that increasing the sweet orange tree density from 538 to 747 trees/ha did not reduce tree height or leaf chlorophyll content in a 2-year-old orchard in Central Florida (Schumann et al, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Sweet Orange Orchard Architecture Design, Fertilizer, and Irrigation Management Strategies under Huanglongbing-endemic Conditions in the Indian River Citrus District

Ferrarezi¹,

Jani²,

James³

et al. 2020

horts

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The prevalence of Huanglongbing (HLB) in Florida has forced growers to search for new management strategies to optimize fruit yield in young orchards and enable earlier economic returns given the likelihood of HLB-induced yield reductions during later years. There has been considerable interest in modifying orchard architecture design and fertilizer and irrigation management practices as strategies for increasing profitability. Our objectives were to evaluate how different combinations of horticultural practices including tree density, fertilization methods, and irrigation systems affect growth, foliar nutrient content, fruit yield, and fruit quality of young ‘Valencia’ sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] trees during the early years of production under HLB-endemic conditions. The study was conducted in Fort Pierce, FL, from 2014 to 2020 on a 1- to 7-year-old orchard and evaluated the following treatments: standard tree density (358 trees/ha) and controlled-release fertilizer with microsprinkler irrigation (STD_dry_MS), high tree density (955 trees/ha) with fertigation and microsprinkler irrigation (HDS_fert_MS), and high tree density with fertigation and double-line drip irrigation (HDS_fert_DD). Annual foliar nutrient concentrations were usually within or higher than the recommended ranges throughout the study, with a tendency for decreases in several nutrients over time regardless of treatment, suggesting all fertilization strategies adequately met the tree nutrient demand. During fruit-bearing years, canopy volume, on a per-tree basis, was higher under STD_dry_MS (6.2–7.2 m3) than HDS_fert_MS (4.3–5.3 m3) or HDS_fert_DD (4.9–5.9 m3); however, high tree density resulted in greater canopy volume on an area basis, which explained the 86% to 300% increase in fruit yield per ha that resulted in moving from standard to high tree density. Although fruit yields per ha were generally greatest under HDS_fert_MS and HDS_fert_DD, they were lower than the 10-year Florida state average (26.5 Mg·ha−1) for standard tree density orchards, possibly due to the HLB incidence and the rootstock chosen. Although tree growth parameters and foliar nutrient concentrations varied in response to treatments, management practices that included high tree density and fertigation irrespective of irrigation systems produced the highest fruit yields and highest yield of solids. Soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) were lower, and the SSC-to-TA ratio was highest under STD_dry_MS in 2016–17, with no treatment effects on quality parameters detected in other years. Both drip and microsprinkler fertigation methods sufficiently met tree nutrient demand at high tree density, but additional research is needed to determine optimal fertilization rates and better rootstock cultivars in young high-density sweet orange orchards under HLB-endemic conditions in the Indian River Citrus District.

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confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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confidence: 99%

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Sweet Orange Orchard Architecture Design, Fertilizer, and Irrigation Management Strategies under Huanglongbing-endemic Conditions in the Indian River Citrus District

Ferrarezi¹,

Jani²,

James³

et al. 2020

horts

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Deep rooting of rainfed and irrigated orange trees in Brazil

Adriano

Laclau

Rodrigues

2016

Trees

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Although the crucial role of deep rooting on the hydraulic functioning of tropical trees has been pointed out, studies dealing with root development below 2 m are still scarce. Our study aimed to gain insight into the fine root traits of rainfed and irrigated orange trees down to the root front in deep tropical soils. Irrigation was applied during dry periods, only 3–15% more than the annual amounts of water supplied by rain. Fine roots were sampled down to a depth of 8 m on four dates in a randomized block design. The effects of soil depth and irrigation on major fine root traits, total fine root length and the relationship between leaf area index (LAI) and root area index (RAI) were studied. The total fine root mass was 728 g m−2 in rainfed plots and 536 g m−2 in irrigated plots during the driest period (Sept/Oct 2012). Across the four sampling dates, the mean depth of the root front was 6.1 m in rainfed plots and 5.5 m in irrigated plots close to the trees, and approximately 4.5 m in the inter-row covered by Brachiaria decumbens plants. LAI was little influenced by irrigation (about 4.5 m2 m−2), but mean RAI was 19.1 m2 m−2 in rainfed plots and 13.7 m2 m−2 in irrigated plots. Small irrigation rates reduced root development in very deep soil layers, and increased fruit production by 9% during the dry year. Deep rooting provides access to water stored in deep soil layers during the rainy season, and thus might have an important functional role during dry periods in tropical orange orchards. (Résumé d'auteur

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Uptake of biocrust nitrogen by tree crops in a sandy soil agroecosystem

Nevins,

Strauss,

Inglett

2024

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are widespread in dryland ecosystems worldwide and were only recently discovered in agroecosystems. As agroecosystem biocrusts complete biological nitrogen (N) fixation, this research investigated if biocrust N could be released to biocrust subsoil and assimilated by a perennial tree crop. Biocrust was pulse labeled with 15NH4Cl (15N) in the greenhouse for eight weeks prior to application in a citrus (Citrus spp.) orchard in Southwest Florida, USA. Patches of labeled biocrust were applied to twelve citrus trees in September, with twelve trees in the same orchard not receiving biocrust (controls). The 15N in the biocrust, subsoil, crop fibrous roots, and crop leaves was quantified at seven dates leading up to fruit harvest 158 days after application. Sampling dates overlapped with citrus root (September–October) and shoot (March) flush periods. Isotopically labeled biocrust N was present in subsoil and crop roots one day after biocrust application and in leaves after three days. Results revealed that N was released from biocrust at a rate of 0.63% 15N released per day leading up to fruit harvest when 91.7% of 15N had been released. The amount of biocrust 15N in the fibrous roots increased during a root flush period (September–October) until 28 days after biocrust application and then decreased leading up to a leaf flush period and fruit harvest. Approximately 23.8% of total biocrust 15N was in the crop tissue at fruit harvest. Overall, these results indicate agroecosystem biocrusts have the potential to support tree crop growth during N demanding growth stages.

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Citrus Tree Spacing Effects On Soil Water Use, Root Density, And Fruit Yield

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Sweet Orange Orchard Architecture Design, Fertilizer, and Irrigation Management Strategies under Huanglongbing-endemic Conditions in the Indian River Citrus District

Sweet Orange Orchard Architecture Design, Fertilizer, and Irrigation Management Strategies under Huanglongbing-endemic Conditions in the Indian River Citrus District

Deep rooting of rainfed and irrigated orange trees in Brazil

Uptake of biocrust nitrogen by tree crops in a sandy soil agroecosystem

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