Australian mandarin production manual Authors: Sandra Hardy, Pat Barkley, Michael Treeby, Malcolm Smith and Graeme Sanderson www.dpi.nsw.gov.au Australian mandarin production manual Sandra Hardy, Patricia Barkley, Michael Treeby, Malcolm Smith and Graeme Sanderson AUSTRALIAN MANDARIN PRODUCTION MANUAL | i Published by NSW Department of Primary Industries, 2017 First published 2017 © State of New South Wales through the Department of Industry, 2017. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data: Title: Australian mandarin production manual Authors: Sandra Hardy, Patricia Barkley, Michael Treeby, Malcolm Smith and Graeme Sanderson Editors: Michael Treeby and Sandra Hardy Sub-editor: Valerie Draper Design: Valerie Draper Edition: 1st ISBN 978 1 76058 056 8 (print ISBN 978 1 76058 057 5 (web) Format: Print and web Subjects: Mandarin, Production, Australia, Handbooks, manuals. Disclaimer The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (September 2017). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent advisor. The product trade names in this publication are supplied on the understanding that no preference between equivalent products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name does not imply endorsement by the department over any equivalent product from another manufacturer. Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the authors and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information include in the document provided by third parties. Users are reminded of the need to follow safe work practice when applying any techniques described in this publication. This includes identifying, assessing and managing any occupational health and safety risks. Information supplied in internet links is not the responsibility of the State of New South Wales or its em- ployees. 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Users are not absolved from any compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or omitted to be made in this publication. ii | Sandra Hardy, Patricia Barkley, Michael Treeby, Malcolm Smith and Graeme Sanderson Foreword The Australian citrus industry finds itself compet- Acknowledgements ing with other citrus producing countries in export NSW DPI and ACIAR provided funding for this markets made up of increasingly more demanding manual as part of projects HORT/2005/142 – ‘Im- consumers. The opening up of East Asian markets proving mandarin production in Bhutan and to imports of Australian citrus is providing Austral- Australia through the implementation of ‘on-farm’ ian citrus producers unprecedented opportunities. best management practices’, and HORT/2010/089 The growing middle class in those markets is de- – ‘Adapting integrated crop management technol- manding consistently well coloured, good tasting, ogies to commercial citrus enterprises in Bhutan clean fruit. Demand for easy-peel citrus fruit – such and Australia’. These projects were undertaken as mandarins – is increasing around the world. from 2007 to 2017. Consumers want easy-to-peel, sweet, juicy fruit The authors would especially like to thank Valerie that are seedless, or have the capacity to be Draper (Professional Officer, NSW DPI) for her seedless. Australia, with its clean and green image, significant contribution in the typing, editing, is well placed to meet this demand. Annual Aus- design and layout of this manual. tralian mandarin production is currently around 12 kT, representing about 20% of Australia’s citrus The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical production. Mandarin exports, representing 22% expertise and editorial assistance provided by the of citrus export volumes, are currently valued at contributing authors from around Australia. over $95 million dollars annually to the Australian Thanks also to Julian Connellan for his initial draft economy. of the manual and photographic contributions, Consistently producing well coloured, good tast- when he was employed as a Project officer on the ing mandarins is more demanding than producing ACIAR project, 2008–2010, and to Dave Monks (Re- other types of citrus, such as navel oranges. The re- search Officer, NSW DPI) for his editorial assistance wards for getting it right are good, and the knowl- in the final stages of the production of this manual. edge needed by Australian mandarin producers, Thanks also to the many mandarin growers who or those who aspire to produce mandarins, is now have provided their time and assistance during the readily accessible in this convenient package. duration of the ACIAR projects. With funding support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has produced this manual to provide existing and aspiring mandarin producers with a summary of the production basics and the most current scien- tific research results. It is intended that this manual will serve to support decisions in the orchard es- tablishment phase, as well as detailing the broader principles that underpin management strategies on a seasonal basis. AUSTRALIAN MANDARIN PRODUCTION MANUAL| iii Authors and contributors Sandra Hardy overseas scientists. She has authored many scientific Sandra (now retired) was the Citrus Industry Leader, papers and extension publications on citrus diseases. Technical Specialist for Citrus and a Senior Extension She is the author of the popular booklet Citrus Horticulturist with the New South Wales Department diseases and disorders. of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Ourimbah, NSW. She [email protected] has 30 years experience working with commercial fruit Michael Treeby producers, specialising in coastal citrus production. Michael is the leader of the horticultural research Sandra was the Australian project leader for the group at the Department of Economic Development, Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), based (ACIAR) project, ‘Improved management practices for at Irymple, Victoria. Previously, he was a Research mandarins in Bhutan and Australia’ from 2007 until Horticulturalist with NSW DPI at Dareton and her retirement in 2013. Sandra was the NSW Coastal Principal Scientist with CSIRO Plant Industry at Cittgroup coordinator for the National Cittgroups Merbein. He was a team member of the ACIAR citrus program from 2003–2009 for Citrus Australia Limited project in Bhutan and Australia. (CAL), the peak industry body for citrus in Australia. Michael has over 25 years research experience on a Sandra has an extensive publications record, with a range of horticultural crops, including citrus, grapes focus on the provision of technical information in a and almonds. Michael's areas of expertise include plant clear and concise style using plain English. She is the physiology and nutrition. He has led a range of national author of Growing lemons in Australia – a production citrus projects, including work on albedo breakdown manual, and co-author of the Fruit size management and postharvest rind breakdown in navel oranges. guides and the Spray Sense series and book. She was He also has a keen interest in the rootstock effects on editor of the NSW DPI quarterly Coastal Fruitgrower's the mineral nutrition of citrus and was responsible Newsletter for over 20 years, producing 74 issues. for establishing a fully replicated field site at NSW DPI [email protected] Dareton for future research in this field. Patricia (Broadbent) Barkley Michael has authored and co-authored many scientific Patricia (now retired), was formerly Citrus Pathologist papers in the fields of plant nutrition and physiology. and Principal Research Scientist with NSW DPI. After He was contributing author of vine nutrition and retiring, Pat was the manager of the Australian vineyard fertiliser management in the Australian Grape National Citrus Improvement Program, focussing production series. Michael has also contributed to Plant on varietal and rootstock improvement and the analysis: an interpretation manual, and the 3rd edition operations of the Auscitrus citrus budwood and of Drip irrigation – a grape grower’s guide. seed scheme, and later Technical Advisor to Citrus [email protected] Australia Limited (CAL). Pat is currently a member of Malcolm Smith the Horticulture Advisory Panel to the Co-operative Malcolm is Principal Horticulturist and Citrus Research Centre for Plant Biosecurity.