Citrus cultivation

Introduction and Importance:

Citrus cultivars are grown in varying quantities in countries with tropical or
sub tropical climate. Citrus stands first in area and production among the
worlds tree fruits. In Pakistan also, citrus fruits are the most important
fruit crops grown on the area of 160,000 hectares with production of 1.5
MMT annually. Citrus fruit is grown in all four provinces of Pakistan but
Punjab produces over 95% of the crop because of its greater population,
favorable growing conditions and adequate water. Citrus is divided into
different groups Sweet oranges, Mandarine, Grape fruit, Lemon and Lime
which are being grown commercially.





Major Citrus Growing Areas in Pakistan:
Punjab:
Distt. Sargodha, Sahiwal, Lahore, Sialkot,
Jhang, Minwali, Multan, Gujranwala
NWFP:
Mardan, Peshawer, Swat, Swabi, Noshera,
Hazzara
Sindh:
Sukkur, Khairpur, Nawabshah
Baluchistan:
Mekran, Sibi and Kech.
Varieties:
Following are the main commercial varieties:
Sweet Orange:
Succri,. Mausami,

Mandarines:
Feutrells Early and Kinnow
Grape Fruit:
Mash Seedless, Duncan, Foster and Shamber
Lemon:
Eureka, Lisbon Lemon and rough Lemon
Lime:
Kaghzi Lime and Sweet Lime


Propagation:
All the improved varieties are propagated by means of budding on
rough lemons or sour orange. Rootstocks are generally grown
through seed, T budding/T grafting are the usual method of citrus
cultivars propagation. Budding may be done during spring (Feb-
March) and autumn (August-October) when bark slip freely from
both scion and stock. Bud should be selected from mature wood of
productive and healthy trees. In sweet lime propagation through
cutting is a common method.
Soil and Climate:
Citrus trees can be grown on a wide range of soils, including deep
sandy loam, loam and clay loam. However, they do not grow well in
very heavy, clayey, sandy, and alkaline or water logged soils. Citrus
fruits trees are grown in tropical and sub-tropical climate.
Temperature is the main factor affecting, time of blooming,
maturity, producing and fruit quality of citrus.

Pruning:
At the time of transplanting the top portion should be balanced with the
roots by removing some of the leaves, if necessary. Annual pruning is done
to remove dried, diseased and those branches overcrowding the top of
the tree. For a young citrus tree to have good frame work, no branches
should be allowed on the main stem and two to four evenly spaced main
limbs should be selected to provide balanced frame work. In Pakistan
however, no systematic pruning is followed except for removal of dried,
diseased and unwanted twigs.
Water Management:
The preferred method of irrigation is a basin round each tree the size of.
There should be channels connecting basins so that irrigation of fruits
trees can be independent of the intercropped area between the tree lines
which have different water requirements. Growth sensitive periods to
water shortage are flowering time (Feb/Mar), fruit setting (Apr/May).

Fertilizers and Manures :
Apply FYMs at the rate of 40 to 80 kg per tree during the winter season in Dec/Jan
before flowering

Apply 3-4 kg SSP and 1.5 to 2 kg of Urea 15-20 days (Jan/Feb) febore flowering
Supply a further amount of Urea of 1.5 kg per tree after fruit setting (Mar/Apr)
If necessary 1.5 kg of Potassium Sulphate may be applied at the time of applying
FYM
Watering is essential after each application of fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids:
These are small brown colored insects. They suck the sap from the leaves and
branches and cause great damage to trees and reduction of yield. Aphid attack is
severe during Feb and April. Use Dizenon 40% or Eldrine 20%, 1 kg in 450 litres of
water. Insecticides should not be applied within 6 weeks of marketing the fruit.
Citrus Leaf Minor:
This attacks the leaves. the attacked leaves become
curled and deformed. If causes great losses in growth
and yield. Use Malathion 57 or Matasystox 50% at the
rate of 500 grams in 450 litres of water per acre for its
control.Lemon Butterfly:
This also attacks fresh leaves. It can be controlled
effectively by using Malathion and Metasystox.
Citrus Whitefly:
This attacks the fruits and causes great losses in yield
and quality. This pest can also be controlled by using
Malathion 57%. This should not be applied within 6
weeks of marketing the fruit.


Withertip:
This disease is caused by nutritional deficiencies. The
branches and fruits of the affected trees start drying and
the tree becomes uneconomical to maintain. Apply a
balanced dose of Bordeaux Mixture 450 after cutting
affected branches from the trees.
Citrus Canker:
This is a bacterial disease. It attacks leads and the fruits. It
forms canker like spots on the leaves and stems of the fruit
causing great reduction in yield and quality of the fruit.
There is no effective treatment for this disease except to
cut and remove the affected trees and spray Formaldehyde
at the spots from where the diseased trees have been
removed.

Harvesting:
Picking of citrus fruits is done almost throughout the year.
The fruit should be picked when it is fully ripe. It will not
develop taste or sugar in storage after picking. The best
method is to pick the individual fruit by holding it in one
hand and cutting the stalk with a knife and collecting it into
boxes or baskets to avoid injury to the stem. The average
yield expected from different types of fruits in various
species are 500 to 1000 fruit per tree.
Pakistan is blessed with a climate ideally suited to the
farming of all kinds of fruits - rich in taste and juicy. Farmers
have been developing new varieties of fruit by grafting one
exotic variety with other.

Kinnos:
Sunny winters in Pakistan yield a large variety of citrus
fruits. The juicy kinno is a unique hybrid of two
varieties of Oranges. It has a soft skin which is easy to
peel and has a lovely fragrance.
Pakistan is fortunate in having great diversity in its soil
and in its ecological and climatic conditions, ranging
from extremely warm to temperate, to very cold. This
enables the country to grow many kinds of trees,
plants, shrubs, vines and creepers which yield a large
variety of fruits and vegetables.