Management of Internal Dryness of Imperial Mandarin
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Management of internal dryness of Imperial mandarin Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation Project Number: CT04002 CT04002 This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research and development undertaken for the citrus industry. The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of the citrus industry. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any authority of the Australian Government. The Company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 2624 7 Published and distributed by: Horticulture Australia Ltd Level 7 179 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 © Copyright 2011 FINAL REPORT CT04002 Management of internal dryness of Imperial Mandarin Helen Hofman Agri-Science Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation CT04002 Management of internal dryness of Imperial Mandarin Final report 31 December 2010 Project leader: Helen Hofman Bundaberg Research Facility 49 Ashfield Road Kalkie 4670 Agri-Science Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Phone: 07 4155 6124 Email: [email protected] Non-invasive assessment and characterization components completed by Associate Professor Kerry Walsh and Dr Phul Subedi Central Queensland University Rockhampton 4702 Phone: 07 49309707 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current Horticulture Australia Limited policy. No person should act on the basis of the content of this publication, whether as to matters of fact or opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication. Contents Media summary…………………………………………………………………………..…. .3 Technical summary…………………………………………………………………….……..4 1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 5 1.1 The problem ................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 What is granulation? .................................................................................................. 5 1.3 What causes granulation? .......................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Existing hypotheses .............................................................................................. 6 1.3.2 A new hypothesis ................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Research program ...................................................................................................... 8 2 Materials and methods ............................................................................... 9 2.1 Location of trial sites .................................................................................................. 9 2.2 General methodology ................................................................................................. 9 2.2.1 Fruit characteristics .............................................................................................. 9 2.2.2 Tree characteristics ............................................................................................. 12 2.2.3 Other characteristics ........................................................................................... 12 2.3 Tagging of individual fruit ....................................................................................... 13 2.3.1 Tagging to assess effects of fruit growth rates ................................................... 13 2.3.2 Tagging for assessment of sample date differences ........................................... 14 2.4 Survey methodology ................................................................................................. 14 2.5 Data on seasonal conditions ..................................................................................... 14 2.6 Data analyses ............................................................................................................. 15 2.7 Thinning trials (I and E) .......................................................................................... 15 2.7.1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 15 2.7.2 Trial E Thinning ................................................................................................. 16 2.7.3 Trial I Thinning .................................................................................................. 17 2.8 Plant growth regulator trials (F, G and H) ............................................................ 18 2.8.1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 18 2.8.2 Trials F, G and H Plant growth regulators ......................................................... 19 2.9 Irrigation frequency trials (C, D, J and N) ............................................................ 20 2.9.1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 20 2.9.2 Trial C Irrigation frequency and foliar nutrients ................................................ 22 2.9.3 Trial D Irrigation frequency and additional N and Zn in Stage I ....................... 23 1 2.9.4 Trial J Irrigation frequency plus extra N in Stage I ............................................ 24 2.9.5 Trial N Irrigation volume and frequency trial in pots ........................................ 28 2.10 Nutrition trials (A, B, K, M and P) ......................................................................... 28 2.10.1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 28 2.10.2 Trial A Identifying key nutrients ....................................................................... 30 2.10.3 Trial B Identifying key nutrients ....................................................................... 33 2.10.4 Trial K Additional N, P and K .......................................................................... 33 2.10.5 Trial M Foliar applications of nutrients............................................................. 34 2.10.6 Trial P Timing of winter application of nitrogen ............................................... 35 3 Results and discussion .............................................................................. 37 3.1 Improved understanding of the causes of granulation ......................................... 37 3.1.1 Rootstocks .......................................................................................................... 37 3.1.2 Soil types ............................................................................................................ 42 3.1.3 Crop load ............................................................................................................ 43 3.1.4 Brix and acid levels ............................................................................................ 45 3.1.5 Tree health .......................................................................................................... 46 3.1.6 Fruit size ............................................................................................................. 47 3.1.7 Fruit position ...................................................................................................... 49 3.1.8 Harvest date ........................................................................................................ 52 3.1.9 Seasonal conditions ............................................................................................ 53 3.1.10 Rootstock and scion size and ‗benching‘ ........................................................... 57 3.1.11 Early estimation of crop granulation .................................................................. 57 3.1.12 Conclusions and implications for management .................................................. 58 3.2 Results of management trials .................................................................................. 58 3.2.1 Thinning trials .................................................................................................... 58 3.2.2 Plant growth regulator trials ............................................................................... 60 3.2.3 Irrigation frequency trials ................................................................................... 64 3.2.4 Nutrition trials .................................................................................................... 69 3.2.5 Spatial trends ...................................................................................................... 91 4 Conclusions ................................................................................................ 93 4.1 Understanding of granulation ................................................................................. 93 4.2 Recommended management practices ..................................................................