Plant husbandry.

Abstract

Abstract This chapter deals with citrus plant husbandry, including field and nursery practices, starting from site and seed selection, planting and seedling preparation, and propagation, to irrigation, fertilizer application, freeze protection, pruning, growth regulator use and weed control. Citrus nursery practices are almost all in protected cover, providing disease-free trees that are much more costly. Almost all plantings are high density to more quickly recover costs and provide economic returns before pests and diseases reduce productivity of the plantings. Due to serious diseases, especially HLB, costs of production are much higher than in the past. Pest and nutritional sprays plus ground fertilizers are now the major costs of production, with weed control usually the third most costly practice.