Orchard Design Influences Fruit Quality, Canopy Temperature, and Yield of Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu ‘Owari’)

Abstract

Satsuma growers in Alabama have used various orchard designs to minimize freeze damage. These designs include interplanting between pecan and pine trees, and planting behind windbreaks. Interplanting satsuma trees with pine trees resulted in warmer temperatures within the orchard, while the other orchard designs did not moderate orchard temperature during severe freeze events. Satsuma fruit harvested from plots shaded by pine tree canopies had higher soluble solids content and reduced fruit weight. Dense pine tree canopies can provide an insulating effect that reduces freeze damage and yield losses when severe freezes occur, but heavy shading can result in lower yields when damaging freezes do not occur.