Blog Details

Lemon Hasta Bahar Planning & Orange-Sweet Lime Mrig Bahar Management 17-9-26

 

Citrus growers today face significant challenges, including erratic weather, fruit drop, nutrient deficiencies, and attacks by pests and fungal diseases. By implementing timely, science-backed field management, orchard owners can restore tree vigor and secure high yields of premium-grade produce. Here is a comprehensive guide based on field-tested expert recommendations.

 

1. Orange & Sweet Lime: Mrig Bahar Management

A. Orchard Tillage & Weed Control

• Wait for proper soil moisture (vapsa condition) after rains, then mow surface weeds using a field cutter.

 

• Carry out shallow inter-cultivation with a light cultivator or harrow. Avoid deep tilling to prevent root damage.

 

• Strictly avoid systemic herbicides like Glyphosate inside the orchard, as they can cause long-term decline in tree health. If weed pressure is severe, use contact herbicides only.

 

B. Managing Fruit Drop

• Primary Causes: Moisture stress followed by waterlogging, abrupt temperature fluctuations, overbearing, and severe deficiencies of primary and secondary nutrients.

 

• Corrective Actions:

 

• • Ensure effective field drainage to prevent root asphyxiation and maintain consistent soil moisture.

 

• • Spray Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) at 80–100 ml combined with 1% Urea per 100 liters of water, or apply Potassium Nitrate with a compatible fungicide to curb drop.

 

C. Fertilization & Micro-Nutrient Care

• Apply standard chemical fertilizers such as 10:26:26, 12:32:16, or 19:19:19 at 1 to 1.2 kg per tree, supplemented with 100 g humic/growth granules and 1 kg neem cake/de-oiled cake (DOC).

 

• Introduce bio-fertilizers (NPK consortia, PSB, KMB) 8–10 days post-chemical application to unlock fixed nutrients in the soil profile.

 

• Correct recurring deficiencies by supplying Magnesium Sulphate, Zinc, Boron, and Ferrous Sulphate every two months via foliar spray or soil drench.

 

D. Pest & Disease Management

• Citrus Psylla, Leaf Miner & Thrips: These pests damage tender foliage and act as vectors for viral diseases. Spray recommended insecticides (such as Profenofos + Cypermethrin formulations or Abamectin) early in the morning before 10 AM, when pests are less active.

 

• Mites (Rust Mites / Mangu): Causes bronzing and blackening of the fruit peel, significantly lowering market value. Apply water-soluble sulfur or dedicated acaricides like Propargite or Fenazaquin.

 

• Sooty Mold (Kolshi): Black fungal growth on leaves halts photosynthesis. Ensure thorough spray coverage, penetrating inside the canopy.

 

• Gummosis & Phytophthora:

 

• • Scrape off exuded gum and apply a fresh 1% Bordeaux paste to tree trunks.

 

• • Maintain a routine trunk-pasting schedule in March, June, and September/December.

 

• • Drench the root zone with Trichoderma and Pseudomonas mixed in well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM).

 

2. Lemon Hasta Bahar Planning

Inducing flowering during the Hasta Bahar produces a crop ready for harvest during peak summer (March to May), fetching premium market rates.

 

A. Water Stress & Floral Induction

• Withhold irrigation starting in July/August by opening tree basins to induce artificial water stress.

 

• Consolidate the June vegetative flush by spraying 0:52:34 along with Chelated Zinc and Propiconazole.

 

• If natural stress is slow, apply growth retardants like Chlormequat Chloride (Lihocin) or Mepiquat Chloride in September.

 

• Where trees resist flowering, Paclobutrazol (approx. 3 ml per tree depending on canopy size) can be applied under strict supervision, followed by balanced feeding to avoid tree exhaustion.

 

B. Breaking Stress & Irrigation

• Administer the first light irrigation in October; follow up 8–10 days later with a full irrigation to trigger uniform bud break.

 

• For drip systems, begin with 4–5 hours of run time, increasing to 8 hours after 3 days.

 

C. Fertilizer Schedule for Lemon

1. Basal Dose (September): 15–20 kg well-decomposed FYM enriched with Trichoderma, PSB, and KMB.

 

1. Pre-Bloom Dose (Early October): 1 kg DAP + 200 g MOP, or 1.5 kg 10:26:26 per tree.

 

1. Post-Fruit Set Dose: 200 g Urea + 300 g MOP per tree once fruitlets are visible.

 

(Note: Avoid applying nitrogenous fertilizers prior to bud emergence, as nitrogen encourages purely vegetative shoots).

 

D. Citrus Canker Management

• Canker creates raised, corky lesions across leaves, twigs, and fruits.

 

• Spray Copper Hydroxide or Copper Oxychloride combined with Streptocycline or Kasugamycin/Validamycin at regular intervals during active vegetative growth.

 

3. Core Orchard Practices

1. Protect Every New Flush (Navti): Citrus sets fruit primarily on mature flushes from preceding cycles. Keep every new vegetative flush free from leaf miners, psylla, and fungal blight.

 

1. Green Manuring: Sow Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) or Dhaincha in orchard alleys and incorporate it into the soil at 50% flowering to enhance organic carbon and fix atmospheric nitrogen.

 

1. Pruning Technique: Limit pruning to dry, damaged, or overcrowded criss-cross branches. Avoid severe heading-back or deep cuts that remove dormant flower-bearing nodes.

Reference Video (YouTube):

Watch the complete session here: Lemon Hasta Bahar & Citrus Management Live