Citron cultivation technology
2025-09-04 11:44:38
Planting areas should be selected from deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soils. When plowing, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizer as a base to improve soil quality and enhance fertility. Sowing can be done in early spring, between February and March, or even during winter. Before sowing, seeds should be sterilized with a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution for two hours, followed by soaking in warm water at 50°C for 2-3 times to ensure better germination.
In Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, it is best to plant seedlings in mid-March to early April. Winter-planted seedlings are more prone to frost damage. It is advisable to use raised beds and ensure the soil is finely compacted. Using drills, the spacing should be about 30 cm, with a seeding rate of 25 kg per acre. Before planting, the buds should be removed, and the remaining parts should be soaked in warm water to avoid scalding the seeds. Within 20-30 days after sowing, germination occurs uniformly. After sowing, cover the seeds with fire earth ash or yellow soil, approximately 2-3 cm thick. To protect the seedbeds, rice straw can be used as a covering, which should be removed once the seedlings emerge. This method achieves an emergence rate of up to 96%.
When seedlings reach a height of 5 cm, they should be thinned out, selecting only the strongest ones and spacing them about 7 cm apart. A basal fertilizer should be applied after transplanting, followed by additional fertilization in June, July, and August. The main fertilizer type is nitrogen-based, applied lightly at first and then more heavily. By October, the growing season begins, and nitrogen application should stop. Seedlings can be planted in the same year, while larger seedlings may require further cultivation. One-year-old seedlings typically grow to about 50 cm tall with a root diameter of 0.7 cm, and planting density can reach around 20,000 per mu. For large seedlings, transplanting is recommended to encourage lateral root growth, ensuring that the root ball is intact during extraction. Pruning branches and leaves appropriately improves survival rates during planting.
Typically, 600-700 trees per acre are cultivated in Xiangxi fields, but the planting density can be increased to 1200-1400 plants per acre. This enhances land utilization, increases fertilizer efficiency, adjusts light exposure to support upright growth, and reduces unnecessary energy consumption through pruning, promoting healthy top growth.
Secondary transplantation is crucial for proper seedling development. In the second year, the main roots are transplanted into a nursery, with over 5000 seedlings per mu. A second transplant is conducted in the following year, where all shoots are cut off and transplanted for sale, with about 1400 seedlings per mu. This process promotes dense root systems, ensures better root retention during transport, and results in a survival rate exceeding 99%, significantly higher than conventional methods. Adopting a strategy of "go big, stay small, and sell in batches" not only improves sales but also optimizes light distribution and accelerates stem growth.
Proper fertilization is essential for citrus seedlings, which are sensitive to drought and pests. Waterlogging should be avoided, especially after rain, and drainage should be maintained during dry periods. Fertilization should follow the principle of surface application, thinning, and balanced use of phosphorus and potassium. Typically, 3-4 applications per year are made, using compound fertilizer or urea at 50 kg per acre.
Through extensive trials, it has been found that T. sinensis seedlings are best transplanted after one year of growth. Avoid keeping seedlings in the bed, as there are no successful cases of direct planting. Instead, multi-year transplants are preferred. Transplanting density should be 0.5 m x 0.3 m. Maintaining an appropriate density helps prepare for root mulching and promotes lateral and fibrous root development, which is beneficial for survival rates. The more transplants, the better the root system and higher the survival rate.
One-year-old seedlings in southern Shaanxi and Jiangsu are vulnerable to frost. When transplanting, late autumn shoots should be pruned, and the seedlings should be covered with straw. Seedlings with a trunk diameter of 2-4 cm are ideal. The bark should be green; if it's dark brown, the seedling is old and unsuitable for planting. Pruning depends on the age: 1/2 of the branches are cut during 3-6 years of transplanting, 3/5 after 7-10 years, and 4/5 after 11-14 years. The pruning method involves cutting off 1/3 of the lateral branches, leaving 2/3 evenly distributed in 3-7 levels.
The timing of planting is critical. In southern Shaanxi, the best time is mid-March to mid-April in spring, and September in fall. In Wuxi, the optimal period is from March 25th to April 10th, followed by the rainy season, which is ideal for planting.
When raising scented stalks, a mulch of about 30 cm in diameter should be used. Soil should not be disturbed. After cutting, some branches and leaves can be left (1-3 slices) to reduce water loss and improve survival. However, avoid cutting too close to the top, as this can affect crown formation. To adapt to long-distance transportation, some lateral branches should be removed to increase survival rates. Observations show that large seedlings without leaf removal have a survival rate of only 30%-50%. When pruning, make sure the cut is close to the main trunk, avoiding any stubs or torn bark.
Planting pits should be dug to a depth of 50-60 cm, matching the root collar of the seedling. When planting large seedlings, ensure the root ball is placed properly, and fill the pit with soil, pressing it firmly to avoid air pockets.
Whether planting on a cloudy or sunny day, it is important to water the seedlings regularly. If the weather is dry, watering should be done every 7 days for 3-4 weeks.
Pest control should be done twice a year: once in early July to manage bagworms, and again in mid-September for moth control. Each treatment uses 0.5 kg of trichlorfon per acre. During winter, pruning removes insect eggs and diseased plants to ensure healthy growth in the next season.
Common pests and diseases affecting eucalyptus seedlings include:
1. Leaf roller moth: Several generations occur annually. The larvae feed on young shoots, causing seedlings to die.
Control: Use 40% Dimethoate diluted 200-300 times, and combine with weeding and soil cultivation to eliminate insects.
2. Beryllium bee: One or two generations occur each year in Zhejiang. Larvae appear in May and June.
Control: Spray 90% trichlorfon crystals or 50% marathon emulsion diluted 2000 times, or use 0.5 kg of Yanghuahua or Tripterygium tursicum powder mixed with 75-100 kg of water.
3. Cinnabar moth: Larvae feed on shoot tips, rolling leaves into nests and damaging new growth.
Control: Spray 90% trichlorfon crystals diluted 4000-5000 times when larvae are active. If nests form, manually remove and burn them.
4. Powdery mildew: Gray-brown spots appear on the back of young leaves, spreading to white powder.
Control: Maintain nursery health, thin seedlings, remove infected plants immediately, and spray 0.3-0.5° Baume sulfur every 10 days for 3-4 times.
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