Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 2, No.

1, 2010

THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF CITRUS FRUITS AS INFLUENCED BY TREE SPACING

Muhammad Azher Nawaz, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Maqbool*, Zahoor Hussain, Tahseen Ashraf
and Yasir Iftikhar
University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
*University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
In citrus, tree spacing widely affects the yield and quality of the fruit. Due to the diminishing resources and ever
increasing cost of agricultural inputs, it is the need of time to use the resources effectively and efficiently. The
available land for agriculture and groves decreasing due the many reasons. Keeping in view the scarcity of
land and other resources, agricultural scientists have designed various ways to enhance the farm yield by the
effective use of available resources. In orchards, tree spacing is used as a tool to increase farm yield and
ultimately the farm income. In this manuscript the work done by various scientists related to citrus tree spacing
and plant canopy management is summarized, pros and cons of this technique and the scope of high density
plantation in Pakistan is discussed in detail.
Keywords: Citrus, plantation, productivity, tree spacing
INTRODUCTION

management practices, labor supply, market

demands, regulatory constraints and tree loss rates
require continual re-evaluation of grove development
to establish optimal systems (Hutton, 1989). The
changes which affect returns from citrus production
include: 1) reduced availability of suitable citrus land,
with consequent development on poor soil types
which influence tree growth rate and ultimately size
and productivity, 2) increasing land values and
taxes, 3) modification in zoning laws effecting
agriculture, 4) tree losses from freezes, diseases
and declines, 5) increased expenditures for
equipment, energy, irrigation systems and labor.
Because of these changes it appears that citrus
production must make more efficient use of limited
amount of suitable land and provide for more rapid
recovery of investment capital in order to provide
maximum average net returns. Biological concepts
involved in optimizing design for citrus groves
include, the relationship between sunlight and
productivity; the relationship between canopy
bearing volume and productivity; the need to
optimize productivity through the life of the grove
rather than at maturity only and production efficiency
(Tucker et al., 1994). Similarly, Zekri (2000) reported
that tree spacing has become an increasingly
important
consideration in citrus rootstock
management because of the benefits of higher tree
density on early production and financial returns.
Phillips (1978) found that high density plantation can
be a better way of getting earlier return on
investment; better spray coverage at low cost, easy
harvesting and return to fulfill production soon after
tree damage or removal. Keeping in view the
importance of tree spacing and plant canopy
management, the current article summarized the

The importance of citrus to agriculture and worlds

economy is demonstrated by its wide distribution
and large-scale production. The Citrus is an
important genus of family Rutaceae in plant
kingdom. Various species of Citrus are believed to
be native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia
and Malaya archipelago (Hooker, 1872). It is
economically a potential fruit and is grown in more
than fifty two countries of the world. Pakistan is
bestowed with suitable climate and soils for citrus
where it is grown on an area of 185,400 ha with
annual production of 2 million tones (Anonymous,
2008). Today, Pakistan stands among the top 11
citrus growing countries of the world. The per
hectare yield of citrus in Pakistan is much less (9-10
tons) compared to other citrus growing countries like
USA, Japan and China having per hectare yield of
22.82, 17.33 and 15.02 t ha-1 respectively (FAO,
2007). Among the other reasons of low yield, tree
spacing is also very important to be considered.
Tree spacing has become an increasingly important
consideration in citrus grove management.
Generally, closely planted groves provide greater
and earlier returns but with a demand for precise
management. Growers want earlier net returns on
their investment and expect them to maximize the
productive life of the grove. Selection of tree spacing
and management philosophy to achieve these goals
is complex, subject to many considerations and
provides for great debate and challenge. Citrus
plantings should be done so that biological and
management aspects are interrelated to maximize
economic returns. Changes in economic factors,

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Muhammad Azher Nawaz, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Maqbool, Zahoor Hussain, Tahseen Ashraf & Yasir Iftikhar

information related to tree spacing, canopy

management and its effect on yield and quality in
citrus.

spacing compared to close spacing. So, it becomes

very much clear that tree spacing widely affect the
vegetative growth of citrus fruit plants.

VEGETATIVE PERFORMANCE

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Tree spacing is affected by factors such as the

species of citrus concerned, the cultivar, the type of
rootstock, the environment, the size of the orchard
and the management practices adopted by the
farmers. The ability to control tree size is central to
the philosophy of high density plantings (HDP) in
contemporary horticulture. Zahid (2006) reported
that maximum plant height (4.493 m) was found at
plant spacing of 3.35 x 3.35 m2 at close spacing and
statistically different from other treatments. Minimum
plant height (2.69 m) was found at 6.70 x 6.70 m2.
The plant height decreases with increase in plant
spacing with more canopy spread. At closer plant
spacing citrus plants grow taller than its normal
pattern of spreading canopy due to competition
among plants for light interception at close spacing,
owing to which plants get more height. The shading
of lower parts is due to more number of plants per
unit area and due to lack of light interception with
less number of fruits and delayed fruit maturity.
Rabe and Aubert (1999) obtained similar results
regarding plant height and shape and concluded that
natural growth habit of citrus spreading upright
changed to somewhat columnar with increased plant
density.

The ultimate concern of citrus orchards is to get

more and more profit from their orchards. The
reproductive performance of fruit plants is affected
by various management and cultural practices. Tree
spacing and canopy management significantly affect
the reproductive performance of citrus plants. The
cropping efficiency of trees grown under high density
plantation was not significantly depressed and yields
were proportional to canopy surface area (CSA).
The yield potential of a citrus orchard is related to
the CSA per hectare. A substantial increase in
orchard productivity was demonstrated by utilizing
HDP of dwarfed "Valencia" orange trees, and no
detrimental effects on fruit quality were identified.
Greater productivity was achieved with close withinrow spacing for any of the row spacing tested. The
data on yield response to given planting densities
described mathematically an inverse polynomial
relation and an optimum yield on the basis of plant
density (Hutton, 1989). Bosswell et al. (1970) found
that light intensity received by the leaf surface
affects fruit set percentage and distribution. Due to
crowding of trees in high density plantation the trend
of fruit set in the trees shifted to the top foliage.
Similar results have also been observed by Zahid
(2006) who reported that maximum fruit set (27.56
%) was found in trees planted at closer spacing
(3.35 x 3.35 m) whereas minimum fruit set (21.98 %)
was found in the trees planted at a spacing of 6.70 x
6.70 m. The optimum fruit set in closer spacing could
be due to more light interception and more number
of new flushes and leaves as citrus species bear on
new growth. So it could be in response to vegetative
growth that induces more bloom and fruit set at
closer spacing.

Canopy volume reflects the efficient use of nutrients,

light and water. Zahid (2006) reported significant
differences in canopy volume by changing the
planting distance. He found maximum plant canopy
volume (8.85 m 3) at planting distance of 6.7 x 6.7 m2
followed by 3.35 x 6.70 m2 (7.99 m3) whereas;
minimum plant canopy volume was observed in 3.35
2
3
x 3.35 m (5.43 m ). Decrease in plant spacing may
cause the plants to loose its original canopy shape
and become columnar due to less space available.
At wider spacing plants have spherical type canopy
because they have enough space for canopy
spread. At wider spacing plants received more light
around the canopy and lateral buds proliferate
effectively leading to lateral branch development.
But in closer spacing shadowing of trees during
early morning hours and late in the evening, terminal
buds proliferate more compared to lateral buds.
According to the studies, although the yield was
comparatively more but quality was low in high
density plantation compared to normal plantation.
Similarly, Wheaton et al. (1991) observed that
canopy volume varied among different plant
spacing. He got more canopy volume in wider

Yield is a horticultural trait of immense importance

and the ultimate choice of planting distance in
commercial cultivation is dependent on its suitability
for better production. Yield of close spacing is more
compared to traditional planting system (Wheaton
et al., 1991). Gallasch (1983) conducted a field
experiment with four planting distances of
Washington Navel orange on Sweet Orange
rootstocks in South Australia. Trees were 7.3 m
apart between rows and 7.3 (normal), 5.5, 4.4 and
3.7 m apart within rows. After six years the yield per
hectare from trees planted at 3.7 m was 121%
greater than from those planted at 7.3 m. At 14
years, closely planted trees had continued to out

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Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 2, No.1, 2010

in high density plantation; they found that juice

percentage in the fruit could be affected by supply of
moisture or rain at the time of harvest. Whereas,
Zahid (2006) reported maximum juice percentage in
the fruits of plants grown at 3.35 x 3.35 m 2 (43.74%)
and minimum juice percentage was observed in
trees having planting distance of 3.35 x 6.70 m2
(40.07%) but the differences were non significant
statistically. It could be inferred that planting
distance affect the quality of fruit but if the canopy
management is practiced by means of pruning
(severe to light), quality and quantity of the fruit will
be better than normal planting distance.

yield those more widely spaced even though they

were slightly reduced in width. Cumulative yield per
hectare from 3.7 m plantings after 14 years was
68% more than from 7.3 m plantings. However Zahid
(2006) found maximum yield in 3.35 x 6.70 m2 (593
fruits) followed by 6.70 x 6.70 m2 (549) and minimum
yield was found in 3.35 x 3.35 m2 (414 fruits). The
choice of suitable planting distance for the
commercial citrus varieties, being of paramount
importance, has been engaging the attention of
research workers in almost all the citrus growing
regions of the world. This trend is also attributed to
the choice of rootstock as the vigorous rootstock
induces more vegetative growth. Planting distance
also depends upon the choice of rootstock; so for
proper and suitable density plantation dwarfing
rootstock are required for the spread and
maintenance of plant canopy.

CONCLUSION
As the value of land increasing and the available
land for cultivation is decreasing, in this scenario
high density plantation is very important and
effective as more fruit bearing volume per hectare
would be attained and for it, we have to move for
dwarfing rootstocks, which can be safely used under
high density planting as reported by Ashkenazi et
al. (1993) otherwise it is difficult to manage the trees
because we are using Rough Lemon as standard
rootstock and all lemon and lime species have
natural tendency to grow vigorously. Moreover,
when there is more number of plants per unit area,
there is possibility of more disease and insect
infestation. High density plantation will make the
orchard management more intensified system of
cultivation for which mechanization will be required
(hedging of trees) as well more resources like
insecticide/ pesticide, fertilizers, labor costs etc.
will be needed to meet the requirement of high
density plantation (HDP). However for further
recommendations systematic efforts are required to
study the relationship between planting densities
and yield as well as quality of the fruit under the
agro-climatic conditions of Pakistan.

QUALITY OF FRUIT
Most of the quality parameters of citrus fruits are
observed to be affected by change in tree spacing
and canopy management practices. Erickson (1968)
found that total soluble solids (TSS) are comprised
of carbohydrates, organic acids, proteins, fats and
various minerals which constitute approximately 1020 % of the fresh weight of the fruit and are
significantly affected by different tree spacing. Total
soluble solids level increases with fruit size and
become nearly constant or slightly increasing during
development stage. Similarly, Zahid (2006) reported
that maximum value for TSS (11.49) was in 6.70 x
6.70 m2 while minimum value for the TSS (9.92) was
computed in fruits of plants which were planted at a
distance of 3.35 x 3.35 m2. Whereas, Donadio et al.
(1999) found that plant spacing had no significant
effect on the total soluble solid contents of the fruit.
Nagy and Attaway (1980) reported an increase in
vitamin-C contents whereas, Zekri (2000) reported
no effect of plant spacing on vitamin-C contents but
Zahid (2006) reported maximum vitamin-C value
-1
(14.56 mg 100 mL ) at planting distance of 3.35 x
2
-1
3.35 m and minimum (7.65 mg 100 mL ) at 3.35 x
2
6.70 m .

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Muhammad Azher Nawaz, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Maqbool, Zahoor Hussain, Tahseen Ashraf & Yasir Iftikhar

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