[I Love Yishizhuang] Promote Five High-quality Cultivation Technologies to Focus on Improving the Quality of Citrus

In recent years, although the quality of citrus in China has been significantly improved compared with the past, there is still a certain gap from the needs of consumers. Satsumas mainly show characteristics such as thick peel, large fruits, poor flavor, and indigestibility; Ponkan tangerines and Nanfeng tangerines mainly have problems like small fruits, low sugar content, and weak flavor; Navel oranges and pomelos show insufficient sweetness, weak aroma, and the phenomenon of granulation in the fruits. All citrus varieties are required to have a regular fruit shape, moderate size, uniform coloring, with a golden yellow or orange-red color, a smooth fruit surface without scars, and a proper sweet and sour taste, rich flavor, and good digestibility.

1.Promote the simplified pruning technology of citrus and cultivate independent tree bodies: According to the specific situation of the orchard, through summer pruning, remove the upright large branches in the upper and middle parts of the crown that bear fewer fruits or affect ventilation and light transmission (open the "skylight"), shorten the fruitless branch groups or branches on the periphery of the crown, stimulate the growth of early autumn shoots, control the height of the crown, maintain a good open-centered crown shape, and promote the improvement of quality and the renewal of the tree body. The focus of winter pruning or spring pruning is to cut off dead branches, diseased and pest-infected branches, and weak branches, which are ineffective branches that consume nutrients. Winter and spring pruning should be combined with the cleaning of the orchard in winter and spring.

2.Promote the prevention and control technology of citrus fruit surface scars and strictly prevent pests and diseases from affecting the fruits: The scars on the surface of citrus fruits cause defects in the appearance of the fruits (the professional term is fruit defects), which seriously affect the appearance quality and sales price of the fruits. The flowering period and young fruit period of citrus are the main periods for the occurrence of fruit surface scars. Leaf beetles, thrips, scab, and gray mold are the main causes of citrus fruit surface scars. Therefore, at the early stage of full bloom of citrus, appropriate pesticides should be selected to scientifically control these pests and diseases, so as to reduce the occurrence of fruit surface scars and improve the appearance quality of citrus. At the same time, proper pruning is also conducive to reducing mechanical damage and thus reducing fruit scars.

3.Promote the corrective fertilization technology of Yishizhuang citrus formula fertilizer to effectively improve the internal quality of citrus: The traditional fertilization method and single chemical fertilizers cannot fully meet the growth and fruiting requirements of different soils and different citrus varieties. In order to improve the quality of citrus, according to the relevant data of the soil census and the different nutritional requirements of citrus at different growth and development stages, the relevant expert team of Huazhong Agricultural University has formulated a scientific fertilizer formula and developed Yishizhuang citrus formula fertilizer. This fertilizer is an "ideal complete fertilizer" with full nutrition, multiple functions, and slow-release and controlled-release properties. In terms of the number of fertilizations, we change multiple fertilizations a year to 1 or 2 fertilizations a year, and it is recommended to apply a large amount of fruit-strengthening and shoot-promoting fertilizer in June. Yishizhuang citrus formula fertilizer contains a large number of elements, medium and trace elements, and organic matter necessary for the growth and development of citrus, which is conducive to reducing the occurrence of citrus nutrient deficiency, and improving the yield and quality of citrus. When fertilizing, it is emphasized to fertilize according to the tree's condition and determine the amount of fertilizer according to the fruit yield. Generally, for fruit-bearing trees over 15 years old, each Satsuma tree should be applied with 4 to 8 catties of 35% Yishizhuang citrus formula fertilizer per year, and each Navel orange tree should be applied with 6 to 10 catties of 35% Yishizhuang citrus formula fertilizer per year.

4.Promote the green prevention and control technology of citrus pests and diseases to ensure the pollution-free production of citrus: In order to effectively control citrus pests and diseases and truly achieve green and safe production, we should adhere to the plant protection policy of "prevention first, comprehensive control, and ecological protection", and effectively reduce the amount and frequency of chemical pesticide application. Strictly control the use of chemical herbicides such as glyphosate for weeding, and promote the growth of grass between the rows in the orchard or natural grass growth to improve the growth environment of the orchard, promote the healthy growth of citrus trees, and at the same time provide habitats for various natural enemies, allowing natural enemies to control the occurrence of pests; install solar frequency vibration lamps in the orchard to trap and kill pests such as whiteflies, fruit-piercing moths, aphids, and leaf beetles. Hang yellow pest trapping boards on the citrus trees and release predatory mites to prevent pests such as whiteflies, aphids, and red and yellow spider mites. By reducing the frequency of chemical pesticide use, the production cost is reduced, and the production of green and safe food is promoted.

5.Promote the appropriate harvesting and full ripening cultivation technology of citrus and reduce malicious early harvesting: In order to ensure the quality, we should adhere to graded harvesting and appropriate harvesting, and put an end to the sale of green fruits and passing off inferior goods as superior ones. For citrus orchards with conditions, about 30 days before the citrus fruits are ripe, measures such as covering reflective films between the rows in the orchard or fixing branches with columns can be taken to maintain a moderate drought situation in the orchard, improve the light conditions in the lower and middle parts of the crown, and create an environment conducive to increasing the sugar content of the fruits and promoting fruit coloring, so as to improve the internal and external quality of the fruits.