Citrus canopy management and rehabilitation program (Thinley Penjor Dorji)
Citrus canopy management practices remain basic in Bhutan. Thus, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project was initiated and demonstrated citrus canopy management practices in selected orchards in 2010. In the same year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project trained land users and extension officers in eastern Bhutan on citrus management practices such as planting methods, nutrient management, pruning and training including top working, fruit thinning and post-harvest management practices. Since then, citrus growers have been slowly adopting the practices in their orchards. However, the adoption rate is low - affecting the yield and quality.
Bhutan has suitable climatic conditions for citrus production, particularly in the southern parts of the country due to the subtropical climate. Citrus such as oranges, mandarins and lemons are grown in orchards and home gardens. In Bhutan, citrus canopy management practices focus on optimizing tree growth, fruit production, and overall tree health. The main elements include pruning, training systems, canopy density management, tree height and size control, and disease and pest management integrated with irrigation and nutrient management practices. Pruning involves selectively removing branches, shoots, or foliage to shape the tree and improve its health. The stump should always be cut as close to the collar region as possible. Training structures the tree in a specific manner to optimize growth and management. Canopy density management regulates foliage density for light penetration and airflow. Techniques such as hedging or topping control the height and size of trees. Disease and pest management practices include adequate air circulation and sunlight exposure. Integration with irrigation and soil nutrient management enhances tree health and productivity. The desirable shape and size of citrus are variable depending on the grower's choice, location, and - most importantly - operational health and safety concerns. In general, the desirable shape and size of the tree should be 2 to 5 m tall, 2 to 5 m width of canopy, and 4 to 6 primary (scaffold) branches that are at least 1 m above the ground level.
The purposes/functions of citrus canopy management technology are to optimize fruit production, improve tree health, and facilitate harvest and maintenance operations. It helps maximize fruit yield and quality. Pruning and maintenance practices enhance tree vigour, reduce the risk of diseases and pests, and improve overall plant health. Controlling tree size and shape makes harvesting easier and more efficient, and simplifies other maintenance activities such as irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.
To establish and maintain citrus canopy management technology, activities such as regular pruning and training, knowledge and skill development, use of proper tools and equipment, monitoring and assessment, irrigation, and nutrition management are required. Regular pruning and training of citrus trees according to the selected system and management objectives is essential. Monitoring tree growth, health, and productivity is important, along with proper irrigation scheduling, water management, and nutrient application.
The benefits/impacts of the technology are improved sunlight exposure, enhanced air circulation, reduced disease incidence, increased fruit size and quality, ease of harvest, consistent yield, optimized water use, better pest management, and others. A well-managed canopy makes it easier to access the fruit during harvest, and achieve higher yields and better-quality fruits, reduced need for pesticides, as well as directing nutrients toward fruit production rather than excessive vegetative growth. However, there are some drawbacks of the technology such as the requirement for time-consuming manual labour, lower initial yields, high initial investments for equipment, and concerns about over-pruning.
ទីតាំង: Nindukha Village, Kana Gewog, Dagana Dzongkhag, ប្រទេសប៊ូតង់
ចំនួនទីកន្លែងបច្ចេកទេស ដែលវិភាគ: មួយកន្លែង
ការសាយភាយនៃបច្ចេកទេស: ត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយត្រឹមតំបន់មួយ (approx. < 0.1 គម2 (10 ហិកតា))
តើស្ថិតក្នុងតំបន់ការពារអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍?: ទេ
កាលបរិច្ឆេទនៃការអនុវត្ត: 2019
ប្រភេទនៃការណែនាំឱ្យអនុវត្តន៍៖
| បញ្ជាក់ពីធាតុចូល | ឯកតា | បរិមាណ | ថ្លៃដើមក្នុងមួយឯកតា (Ngultrum (Nu.)) | ថ្លៃធាតុចូលសរុប (Ngultrum (Nu.)) | % នៃថ្លៃដើមដែលចំណាយដោយអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ដី |
| កម្លាំងពលកម្ម | |||||
| Pruning | Person/day | 17,0 | 500,0 | 8500,0 | 100,0 |
| សម្ភារៈ | |||||
| Pruning saw | Number | 1,0 | 2000,0 | 2000,0 | 100,0 |
| Secateurs | Number | 1,0 | 2500,0 | 2500,0 | 100,0 |
| សម្ភារៈដាំដុះ | |||||
| Sapling | Number | 247,0 | 150,0 | 37050,0 | |
| ជី និងសារធាតុពុល | |||||
| Bordeaux mixture | Litres | 12,0 | 125,0 | 1500,0 | |
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបក្នុងការបង្កើតបច្ចេកទេស | 51'550.0 | ||||
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបក្នុងការបង្កើតបច្ចេកទេសគិតជាដុល្លារ | 644.38 | ||||
| បញ្ជាក់ពីធាតុចូល | ឯកតា | បរិមាណ | ថ្លៃដើមក្នុងមួយឯកតា (Ngultrum (Nu.)) | ថ្លៃធាតុចូលសរុប (Ngultrum (Nu.)) | % នៃថ្លៃដើមដែលចំណាយដោយអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ដី |
| កម្លាំងពលកម្ម | |||||
| Pruning | Person/day | 7,0 | 500,0 | 3500,0 | 98,0 |
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបសម្រាប់ការថែទាំដំណាំតាមបច្ចេកទេស | 3'500.0 | ||||
| ថ្លៃដើមសរុបសម្រាប់ការថែទាំដំណាំតាមបច្ចេកទេសគិតជាដុល្លារ | 43.75 | ||||
Land users mentioned that there was a significant increase in crop yield after canopy management.
គុណភាពមុន SLM: 50-60%
គុណភាពក្រោយ SLM: 80%
The land users stated that the size of the fruit was bigger and of better quality after canopy management.
The land users stated that the risk of producing lower quality fruits that are not acceptable in the market has greatly reduced.
The cost of equipment is moderately expensive. However, the land users feel the cost is compensated by the increase in income. The land users also take special care of the equipment.
Improved quality and quantity of citrus are directly related to increased farm income as there is a higher price provided for good quality produce.
គុណភាពមុន SLM: 40%
គុណភាពក្រោយ SLM: 50%
The management practices such as training, pruning, and application of Bordeaux mixture are laborious. Therefore, the workload of land users has increased by about 10 per cent.
The land users are self-sufficient in terms of citrus. Further, the portion of their yield is shared with their relatives making the community self-sufficient. The income generated from selling the produce is used to procure nutritious foods from the market making them food secure.
Improved income if used efficiently increases the health situation of the family members.
The traditional practice did not include nutrient management of the orchard. The citrus canopy management technology includes proper manuring or nutrient management of the orchard leading to increased knowledge of SLM for the land users.
The technology improved tree health reducing the risk of orchards converting to fallow land and increasing vegetation cover.
The improved soil and canopy management increased earthworm and bee populations on the farm.
After canopy management, the land users stated that they have experienced fewer pest and disease incidences. This could be due to better sunlight penetration and air movement in the tree canopy.
The orchard harbouring pests and diseases can damage neighbouring fields as the diseases are transmitted from one field to another through vectors and other sources. Therefore, the technology improves the health of the orchard and prevents the risk of damaging neighbouring orchards.
