Managing citrus orchards with less water

Summary

In situations of reduced water availability it can sometimes be more profitable to provide optimum water to part of an orchard, and produce good marketable fruit, rather than watering the whole orchard and producing small unmarketable fruit. Managing your citrus orchard with a reduced water allocation requires planning. The following information outlines a number of management options and strategies that can be used in developing a plan of action.

Topics covered include:

• citrus water requirements
• water and citrus growth
• citrus growth stages
• impacts of water stress on growth
• water saving practices
• strategies for managing citrus with less water
• additional tree management strategies