{"id":48132,"date":"2025-07-01T09:51:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T09:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azud.com\/sectores\/citrus-fruits\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T10:34:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:34:56","slug":"citrus-fruits","status":"publish","type":"sectores","link":"https:\/\/azud.com\/en\/sectores\/agriculture\/woody\/citrus-fruits\/","title":{"rendered":"Citrus fruits"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About the cultivation of Citrus fruits<\/strong>\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Citrus cultivation (oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruits) is currently one of the most important commercial crops worldwide.<\/p>

Citrus fruits are grown in almost every region of the world, in tropical and subtropical areas within the band bounded by the 40\u00b0 parallel north and south. The world’s largest producer of citrus fruits is China, followed by Brazil and the United States.<\/p>

Citrus fruits are considered among the fresh fruits with the highest nutritional value. This is due to their balanced content of water, sugars, acids, minerals, fiber, and vitamins, and their high vitamin C content is indisputable. They are consumed fresh as seasonal fruit for consumption, used to extract juice for direct consumption or as a dressing or condiment, and utilized in the food industry to produce soft drinks, liqueurs, jams, pectins, jellies, and confectionery products.<\/p>

Temperature is the most important component of the climate, as it is essential for vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, and fruit quality. The plant has low cold tolerance; temperatures below -3\u00b0C have a significant impact on the flowers, fruit, and foliage.<\/p>

Relative humidity is another important factor in citrus production; fruit set depends on moderate relative humidity, and the appropriate range for relative humidity is considered to be between 35% and 70%.<\/p>

With the proper selection of rootstocks and cultural practices, citrus trees can be successfully grown in a wide variety of soil textures, although they prefer deep, light soils\u2014such as sandy loam, loam, or clay loam\u2014with good drainage and aeration.<\/p>

Citrus fruits thrive in a wide pH range from 4 to 9; however, the optimal pH range is considered to be between 5.5 and 6.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Irrigation Systems for Small and Large Citrus Plantations\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Nutrient uptake by citrus trees is not constant throughout the year. This process reaches its lowest levels during the winter, increases in the spring, and peaks at the end of the spring, coinciding with the fruit-setting period.<\/p>

During the summer, it remains at high levels and gradually decreases during the fall. The greatest increase in uptake coincides with the period of highest consumption by the plant, which is flowering and fruit set.<\/p>

The most common micronutrient deficiencies in citrus crops are boron, zinc, manganese, and copper in alkaline soils; therefore, a good strategy is to maintain the pH between 6.5 and 7.0.<\/p>

Citrus trees are perennial plants with a large leaf area and, therefore, a high evapotranspiration rate. The water requirements of citrus trees, ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 m\u00b3\/ha, are determined by soil and climate factors, the specific requirements of the cultivated species (species and variety-rootstock combination), other factors related to plantation characteristics and cultivation practices (planting density, pruning), and the desired production goal\u2014a balance between quantity, quality, and the timing of the harvest.<\/p>

The characteristics of its root system, combined with the plant\u2019s susceptibility to disease due to high soil moisture content\u2014especially near the trunk\u2014make a dual irrigation system with low flow rates per line the best option.
The controlled deficit irrigation<\/strong> (DIC) is an alternative irrigation practice used when water availability is limited, with the goal of achieving a good crop response based on a thorough understanding of the agronomic needs at each stage of the crop cycle.
The SUB-SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION<\/strong> (RGS) is a cultivation practice with numerous economic and agronomic benefits. In citrus crops, it also offers advantages related to a lower incidence of diseases caused by moisture near the trunk or in direct contact with the fruit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Water Use Efficiency<\/strong> with drip irrigation for citrus trees<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Selecting the dripline:<\/strong> A wide range of options ensures the proper selection of dripline tubing. The combination of emitter model, flow rate per emitter, and spacing between emitters not only ensures the delivery of the water rates specified in the irrigation strategy but also guarantees a large volume of moist soil available for root development in both surface-level localized irrigation and RGS systems.<\/p>

Digital Farming:<\/strong> In addition to selecting the appropriate dripline tubing, the use of AZUD QGROW equipment for the precise management of water and nutrient inputs\u2014based on data from soil, plant, and weather sensors\u2014enables:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • Good root system development during the early stages of the crop’s growth and proper Irrigation practices once the crop begins producing.<\/li>
  • Management of irrigation practices designed to prevent high soil moisture levels and high EC values, to which citrus trees are highly sensitive.<\/li>
  • Ensure the supply of water and nutrients necessary to achieve, under existing soil and climate conditions, the intended production goal, thereby enabling high yields with the highest quality standards (fruit size and sugar content).<\/li>
  • Independently carry out specific irrigation practices based on the type of irrigation: surface drip irrigation or RGS.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    What innovations and technologies are transforming citrus farming? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The latest innovations in citrus cultivation include advanced drip irrigation systems, crop monitoring using sensors and drones, and precision agriculture techniques to optimize resource use and increase productivity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    How can I determine the most suitable irrigation system for my citrus orchard? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChoosing the most suitable irrigation system depends on several factors, including the size of the orchard, soil type, local climate, and available resources. We offer personalized advice and on-site assessments to help you select and implement the irrigation system that best suits your specific needs, ensuring that your investment maximizes the benefits for your citrus crop.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    How can irrigation systems benefit both small and large citrus plantations? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur irrigation systems are designed to be scalable and versatile, enabling farmers with crops of any size to maximize their water efficiency, improve plant health, and increase crop yields, regardless of the size of their operation.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\tSuccess Stories<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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