Mandarin Cultivation

Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata
Family: Rutaceae
Chromosome Number: 2n = 18
Origin: China
Type of Fruit: Hesperidium
Edible Part: Juicy placental hairs (juice vesicles)

Major Producing States in India; Maharashtra (Nagpur), Madhya Pradesh, Assam

🔸 Economic Importance

• Most popular and widely grown citrus fruit in India.
• Occupies nearly 50% area under citrus species.
• Rich in Vitamin C, A, and antioxidants.
• Used for fresh consumption, juice production, squash, and marmalade.

Climatic Requirements

• Climate Type: Subtropical to tropical.
• Temperature: Optimum 25–30°C; susceptible to frost and heat above 40°C.
• Rainfall: 100–250 cm annually.
• Altitude: 500–1000 meters above sea level.
• Flowering Trigger: Temperature and moisture stress (used in bahar treatment).

🔸 Soil Requirements

• Soil Type: Well-drained sandy loam to clay loam.
• Soil pH: 5.5–7.5.
• Avoid waterlogged, saline, or heavy clay soils.

🔸 Popular Varieties

• India:

• Nagpur Mandarin – Maharashtra
• Khasi Mandarin – North East
• Coorg Mandarin – Karnataka
• Darjeeling Mandarin – West Bengal
• Kinnow – Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan (hybrid: King × Willowleaf)

🔸 Propagation

• Method: Vegetative – T-budding, shield budding, air layering.
• Rootstocks Used:
  • Rough lemon (C. jambhiri) – most common.
  • Karna khatta
  • Rangpur lime

Note: Citrus seeds are polyembryonic and should be sown immediately after extraction (no dormancy).

🔸 Planting

• Season: June–July (monsoon) or Feb–March (irrigated areas).
• Spacing: 5 × 5 m or 6 × 6 m (depends on variety and soil).
• Pit Size: 60 × 60 × 60 cm, filled with FYM, neem cake, and topsoil.

🔸 Bahar Treatment (Flowering Seasons in Central India)

Flower induction is managed using moisture stress + pruning (bahar treatment).

🔸 Manure and Fertilizer (per tree/year)

• Apply FYM in June and fertilizers in two splits (Feb and Aug).
• Micronutrient spray (Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg) is beneficial.

🔸 Irrigation

• Frequency: Every 7–10 days in summer; 20–25 days in winter.
• Avoid waterlogging.
• Drip irrigation preferred for water efficiency.

🔸 Training and Pruning

• Central leader system in initial years.
• Remove rootstock sprouts and water shoots regularly.
• Pruning for shape and light penetration.

🔸 Flowering and Fruit Set

• Flowering: 3 times a year (as per bahar).
• Fruit Set: 1–2% natural set; pollination aided by insects.

🔸 Harvesting and Yield

• Bearing starts: 3–4 years after planting.
• Maturity period: 7–9 months after flowering.
• Yield: 10–15 tonnes/ha (average); well-managed orchards can yield 20+ tonnes/ha.
• Harvest when fruits develop full color and are firm.

🔸 Post-Harvest Handling

• Storage: Short shelf life; store at 5–8°C.
• Packaging: Bamboo baskets, corrugated fiberboard boxes.
• Grading: Based on size, color, and blemishes.

Sweet Orange Cultivation

Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis
Family: Rutaceae
Chromosome Number: 2n = 18
Origin: South-East Asia (India and China)
Type of Fruit: Hesperidium
Edible Part: Juicy placental hairs (juice vesicles)

Major Producing States (India)

• Maharashtra (Mosambi)
• Andhra Pradesh
• Telangana
• Madhya Pradesh
• Punjab (Jaffa, Blood Red)
• Rajasthan

Economic Importance

• One of the most important commercial citrus fruits globally.
• Rich source of Vitamin C, A, B-complex, sugars, and antioxidants.
• Consumed as fresh fruit and processed into juice, squash, jam, jelly, marmalade, etc.
• Export potential fruit – contributes to the economy.

 Climatic Requirements

• Climate Type: Subtropical to tropical.
• Temperature: Optimum 25–32°C.
• Rainfall: 75–250 cm annually.
• Humidity: Moderate; avoids extremes.
• Sunlight: Requires bright sunlight; intolerant to frost and strong winds.

 Soil Requirements

• Soil Type: Deep, well-drained sandy loam or loamy soils.
• Soil pH: 5.5–7.5.
• Avoid waterlogged, saline, or alkaline soils.

Popular Varieties

• India:

• Mosambi (Sathgudi): Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh
• Blood Red: Punjab
• Jaffa: Maharashtra, Karnataka
• Valencia Late: Suitable for juice industry
• Hamlin: Early maturing
• Washington Navel: Large-sized, seedless
• Pineapple Orange: Aroma resembles pineapple

Propagation

• Method: T-budding, shield budding on suitable rootstocks.
• Rootstocks Used:
  • Rough lemon (C. jambhiri) – most common
  • Rangpur lime
  • Carrizo citrange
  • Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) – for nematode resistance

Sweet orange is polyembryonic (multiple embryos in one seed), but seedlings lack uniformity, hence vegetative propagation is preferred.

Planting

• Season: June–July (rainy) or Feb–March (irrigated).
• Spacing: 6 × 6 m or 5 × 5 m depending on variety and soil fertility.
• Pit Size: 60 × 60 × 60 cm; filled with topsoil, FYM (10–15 kg), neem cake.

Flowering and Fruit Set

• Flowering: Mainly in February–March (spring flowering).
• Fruit Maturity: 7–9 months after flowering.
• Fruit Drop: Heavy in early stages; managed by NAA @ 10–15 ppm spray.

Manures and Fertilizers (Per Tree/Year)

• Micronutrient Spray: ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, MgSO₄, and Boron recommended.
• Application Time: N in two split doses – Feb–Mar and Aug–Sep.

Irrigation

• Frequency: Every 7–10 days in summer; 20–30 days in winter.
• Critical stages: flowering, fruit set, and fruit development.
• Drip irrigation enhances water-use efficiency.

Training and Pruning

• Train to a single stem up to 1 meter, then allow 4–6 scaffold branches.
• Remove suckers, water shoots, and crossed branches.
• Light annual pruning improves yield and fruit quality.

Harvesting

• Maturity Indices:
  • Color change
  • TSS:Acid ratio ~12:1
• Harvesting Tool: Fruit clippers or secateurs to avoid stem damage.
• Bearing Age: Starts at 3–4 years.
• Yield:
  • Average: 10–15 t/ha
  • Well-managed orchards: 20–25 t/ha

Post-Harvest Handling

• Grading: Based on size, weight, color, and shape.
• Storage: 6–8°C; RH 85–90% for 4–6 weeks.
• Packaging: Corrugated cardboard boxes or bamboo baskets.
• Transport: Minimize bruising and mechanical damage.

Processing and Value Addition

• Juice, squash, jam, jelly, marmalade
• Essential oil from peel
• Dehydrated peel powder (flavoring)

Lime & Lemon Cultivation

Botanical Classification

Economic Importance

• Rich in Vitamin C and citric acid.
• Used in sherbet, pickles, sauces, juice, and industrial products like citric acid and essential oils.
• Lemon oil from peel is used in cosmetics and medicine.
• Highly profitable as it bears fruits multiple times a year.

Climatic Requirements

• Climate Type: Tropical to subtropical.
• Temperature: Ideal 25–30°C; sensitive to frost.
• Rainfall: 750–1000 mm; avoid high humidity.
• Sunlight: Bright sunlight required.

Soil Requirements

• Soil Type: Sandy loam to clay loam.
• pH: 5.5–7.5.
• Avoid waterlogged or saline soils.

Important Varieties

Lime (C. aurantiifolia)

• Kagzi Lime (most popular)
• Sai Sharbati – thornless, juicy
• Phule Sharbati – high juice content
• Pramalini
• Vikram, PKM-1

Lemon (C. limon)

• Assam Lemon – large, juicy, popular in NE India
• Eureka – Seedless, evergreen
• Lisbon – Similar to Eureka
• Pant Lemon-1, 2
• Italian Lemon

Propagation

• Method: Mainly budding, also air layering or cuttings.
• Rootstocks Used:
  • Rough lemon (C. jambhiri)
  • Karna Khatta
  • Trifoliate orange (for cold resistance)

Planting

• Season: June–July or Feb–March.
• Spacing: 4 × 4 m to 6 × 6 m.
• Pit Size: 60 × 60 × 60 cm; filled with FYM + neem cake + soil.

Manures and Fertilizers (Per tree/year)

• Micronutrient spray (Zn, Fe, Mn, B) improves yield and quality.

Irrigation

• Weekly in summer, 15–20 days in winter.
• Drip system ideal.
• Avoid excess watering during flowering.

Training and Pruning

• Remove water sprouts, diseased and crossing branches.
• Train to maintain a central leader structure.

Flowering and Fruiting

• Multiple flushes/year: Jan–Feb, June–July, Oct–Nov.
• Fruit maturity: 5–6 months.
• Yield: 25–30 kg/tree after 5 years; up to 30–35 t/ha.

Grapefruit Cultivation

Botanical Classification

• Botanical Name: Citrus paradisi
• Family: Rutaceae
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 18
• Origin: Barbados (West Indies) – hybrid of pomelo × sweet orange

Economic Importance

• Table fruit and juice industry.
• Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants.
• Contains lycopene, flavonoids, and lowers cholesterol.
• Preferred in export and high-end markets.

 Climate and Soil

• Climate Type: Subtropical; needs warm days and cool nights.
• Temperature: 20–32°C.
• Soil: Well-drained sandy loam.
• pH: 5.5–7.0.

Popular Varieties

• Marsh Seedless – most widely grown.
• Ruby Red – red-fleshed, seedless.
• Duncan – seedy, good for processing.
• Redblush – attractive red pulp.
• Star Ruby – deep red pulp, high TSS.

Propagation & Planting

• Method: Budding on Rough lemon or Trifoliate orange.
• Spacing: 6 × 6 m.
• Planting Season: June–July or Feb–March.

Manures and Fertilizers

Same as sweet orange.

Irrigation & Care

• Avoid water stress at flowering and fruit development stages.
• Prune lightly to remove dead/diseased wood.
• Requires good drainage and full sunlight.

Harvesting

• Maturity: 8–10 months after flowering.
• Yield: 200–300 fruits/tree or 20–25 t/ha.
• TSS: 8–10° Brix; TSS:acid ratio ~10–12:1

Post-Harvest & Marketing

• Pack in ventilated cardboard boxes.
• Store at 8–10°C, RH 90%.
• Value-added products: Juice, marmalade, essential oil (from peel).

Major Producing States (India)

• Lime/Lemon: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Tamil Nadu
• Grapefruit: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka (on limited scale)