Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T12:41:46.744Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Vegetative growth of citrus nursery trees related to the container volume

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2005

Eduardo Augusto Girardi
Affiliation:
Dep. Produção Vegetal, USP/ESALQ, CP 9, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
de Assis Alves Mourão Filho Francisco
Affiliation:
Dep. Produção Vegetal, USP/ESALQ, CP 9, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
Dibbern Graf Christiano César
Affiliation:
Citrograf Mudas, Rodovia SP 191, Km 21.4, 13835-970, Conchal, SP, Brazil
Bacic Olic Fernando
Affiliation:
Dep. Produção Vegetal, USP/ESALQ, CP 9, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. The determination of an adequate container volume that combines rational use of substrate with maximization of vegetative growth is very important to optimize citrus nursery tree production. This experiment aims to evaluate the influence of container volumes on vegetative growth of citrus nursery trees. Materials and Methods. Pera sweet orange nursery trees [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] budded on Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) were produced in six container volumes [(3.0, 3.8, 4.5, 4.6, 5.0 and 5.8) L], with the respective container dimensions of [(20 × 32, 20 × 35, 22 × 32, 22.5 × 35, 25 × 32 and 25 × 35) cm]. Another 5.0-L container studied had the dimensions of 20 cm x 40 cm. Commercial substrate was composed of Pinus bark and a controlled-release fertilizer was used. Parameter evaluation started after moving the rootstocks from seedling trays, 3.5 months after sowing, to plastic containers and continued until nursery trees reached one year old. The studied parameters were shoot height, diameter and leaf area of rootstocks and nursery trees, bud take percentage and scion and root dry matter of nursery trees. Results and discussion. The development of Rangpur lime plants was not affected by any treatment until budding. The largest container volumes induced faster and more vigorous vegetative development of Pera sweet orange nursery trees budded on Rangpur lime. A 5.0-L container volume could be indicated as a technical and economical option for the production of containerized citrus nursery trees.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Panzani, C.R., Prates, H.S., Greve, A., Sistema de produção de muda certificada de citros no Estado de São Paulo, Laranja 15 (1994) 175199.
Carvalho, S.A., Regulamentação atual da Agência de Defesa Agropecuária para produção, estocagem, comércio, transporte e plantio de mudas cítricas no Estado de São Paulo, Laranja 24 (2003) 199239.
Platt R.G., Opitz K.W., Propagation of Citrus, in: Reuther W. (Ed.), The Citrus Industry, Univ. Calif., Riverside, USA, 1973.
Gomes, M.P., Mudas em containers. Uma ótima opção, Rev. Cutrale 1 (1989) 6.
Gouin, F.R., Plastic planter bags, advantages and disadvantages, Nurs. Bus. 24 (1979) 6364.
Oseni, T.O., Fawusi, M.O.A., Performance of citrus scions on ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin at different nursery spacing and plant arrangements, Tropic. Agric. 69 (1992) 207210.
Oseni, T.O., Fawusi, M.O.A., Influence of nursery spacing and plant arrangement on the growth and leaf nutrient content on three citrus rootstocks seedlings, Trop. Agric. 64 (1987) 4145.
Rezende, L. de P., Amaral, A.M. do, Carvalho S.A. de, Souza M., Volume de substrato e superfosfato simples na formação do limoeiro “cravo” em vasos. I. Efeitos no crescimento vegetativo, Laranja 16 (1995) 165177.
Köppen W., Climatológia: con un estudio de los climas da tierra, fondo de cultura económica, Mexico, 1948, 478 p.
Khalaf, H.A., Koo, R.C.J., The use of controlled release nitrogen on container grown citrus seedlings, Citrus Veg. Mag. 46 (1983) 10.
Hanlon E.A., Obreza T.A., Alva A.K., Tissue and soil analysis, in: Tucker D.P.H., Alva A.K., Jackson L.K., Wheaton T.A. (Eds.), Nutrition of Florida citrus trees, Univ. Fla., Gainesville, USA, 1995.