Agronomic practices and bio-stimulants for persian lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) production in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate biostimulants and cultural practices for floral induction in Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez) to obtain production during the winter season, when the highest price in the market is offered with. Design/methodology/approach: From July to September period, biostimulants and cultural practices were applied to six-year-old trees with different treatments as follows: 1. Pruning only, 2. Pruning + urea, 3. Pruning + urea + ringing, 4. Pruning + biofol® + ringing. Additionally, during September, two more treatments were included: 5. Pruning + calcium prohexadione, and 6. Pruning + Citomax®. The design used was randomized blocks with four repetitions. The experimental unit was one lime tree. Flowering, yield, physical-chemical quality and cost-benefit ratio were evaluated. Results: The outstanding effect of pruning and the effect of nitrogen were confirmed with the foliar application of granulated urea (6.0 kg ha-1) during the period from July to September, obtaining an average yield of 23 t ha-1 during the harvest from December to March, with a B/C 2.5 ratio. The quality of the fruit was kept within the NMX-FF-077-1996 Mexican standard. September applied Pruning + Citomax® (cytokinins) showed a yield of 30 t ha-1, with a B/C 3.1 ratio. Findings/conclusions: Pruning + nitrogen, and pruning + cytokinins induce flowering and produce Persian lime with the best winter yields. Objective: To evaluate biostimulants and cultural practices for floral induction in Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez) to obtain production during the winter season, when the highest price in the market is offered with. Design/methodology/approach: From July to September period, biostimulants and cultural practices were applied to six-year-old trees with different treatments as follows: 1. Pruning only, 2. Pruning + urea, 3. Pruning + urea + ringing, 4. Pruning + biofol® + ringing. Additionally, during September, two more treatments were included: 5. Pruning + calcium prohexadione, and 6. Pruning + Citomax®. The design used was randomized blocks with four repetitions. The experimental unit was one lime tree. Flowering, yield, physical-chemical quality and cost-benefit ratio were evaluated. Results: The outstanding effect of pruning and the effect of nitrogen were confirmed with the foliar application of granulated urea (6.0 kg ha-1) during the period from July to September, obtaining an average yield of 23 t ha-1 during the harvest from December to March, with a B/C 2.5 ratio. The quality of the fruit was kept within the NMX-FF-077-1996 Mexican standard. September applied Pruning + Citomax® (cytokinins) showed a yield of 30 t ha-1, with a B/C 3.1 ratio. Findings/conclusions: Pruning + nitrogen, and pruning + cytokinins induce flowering and produce Persian lime with the best winter yields.