citrus pruning: why? (fake, 2012)
DESCRIPTION
Citrus Pruning, Why? by Cindy Fake, County Extension (UCCE), CaliforniaTRANSCRIPT
Pruning Citrus - Why
Cindy Fake University of California Cooperative
Extension, Placer & Nevada CountiesJanuary 2012
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Why Prune Citrus?
• Improve fruit quality & marketable yields by: – Increasing light in the canopy– Pruning out non-productive branches
(watershoots) – Reducing risk of soil borne pathogens affecting
fruit• Reduce costs by:– Facilitating weeding, mowing, & mulching– Reducing tree height (also injury risk)
• Improve tree health• Reduce insect and disease problems
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Benefits of Pruning• Pruning increases annual returns – Improve quality through better flavor and color– Increase yields– Increase percentage of larger fruit– Decrease pesticides use– Decreases harvest costs
• Increases orchard life
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But …?• Each grower must weigh
the cost of pruning against the increased revenue from higher quality or higher yields
• Pruning must provide an increased return to compensate for the increased cost of production
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Why?
Thank you!