Modern trends of Citrus pruning in Italy

Abstract

The citrus industry is at present increasingly oriented toward upgrading groves, discarding obsolete plantings and introducing new rootstock/scion combinations which are more tailored to local environmental conditions. A rise in production costs (but without a proportionate increase in profit) together with technological innovation have both led to many changes in citrus orchard management, and consequently there have been changes in cultural techniques. Many cultural and edaphic factors influence the choice of pruning frequency and intensity. The main goal of pruning is to reach a useful balance between yield and growth, and to reduce cultivation costs. Drastic pruning in young citrus trees with a vigorous vegetative habit causes an excess of shoot growth, thereby extending the juvenile stage and delaying fruiting. Adaptation of the technique to local conditions in bearing groves (species, cultivars, planting distances, etc.) is mandatory for pruning optimization. A fully mechanised approach to pruning leads to substantial changes in citrus grove management and sometimes to negative effects on yield. Functional integration of mechanical and assisted pruning seems to be the right choice for the Italian citrus industry.