1. Mulching
Mulching is a resource-rich and cost-effective water-saving technique, known for its soil improvement, water conservation, and yield-increasing effects. By removing weeds in the orange orchard and utilizing the resources of terrace wall weeds, they are laid inside the tree panes, covered with a thin layer of soil on top, effectively reducing soil evaporation. Fire prevention measures should be taken after mulching.
2. Improving Irrigation Methods
Most citrus orchards use flood irrigation, which often leads to slow water infiltration due to soil compaction, causing severe surface runoff and high evaporation rates, significantly affecting irrigation efficiency. Considering the terrain and water sources of our citrus orchards, it is necessary to improve ground irrigation techniques and vigorously promote water-saving irrigation methods.
- Furrow Irrigation: Furrow irrigation is an advanced ground irrigation technique that saves about one-third of water compared to flood irrigation. Additionally, furrow irrigation reduces surface evaporation compared to flood irrigation. The method involves clearing large ditches between orange tree rows, creating circular ditches along the drip line of the trees, and watering each plant individually. In hilly terrains, water can be transported using back ditches. After irrigation, timely soil covering and loosening should be done to reduce surface evaporation.
- Subsurface Drip Irrigation: Dig 3-5 holes around the citrus trees, with a diameter of 15-20 cm and a depth of 60-80 cm, and stuff them with fine branches or straw. When irrigating, pour water into the holes. This method not only allows water to quickly penetrate the roots of the citrus trees but also saves water compared to flood irrigation. It can also reduce or avoid drastic changes in soil and tree moisture conditions caused by flood irrigation, which may lead to fruit cracking, leaf drop, and fruit drop.
3. Spraying Drought-resistant Agents
Humic acid is a multifunctional transpiration inhibitor and growth regulator for plants. Spraying the tree canopy can reduce stomatal aperture, inhibit leaf transpiration, increase chlorophyll content, enhance photosynthetic capacity, promote root activity, reduce soil water consumption, and improve plant water status. The effective period after spraying is 12-20 days. Fruitda 1500-2000 times liquid or Dryland Dragon 1000 times liquid can be used, sprayed on the canopy before 10 am or after 4 pm, once every 10 days, and continuously sprayed 2-3 times.
4. Water Retention in Ditches
In hilly citrus orchards, it is essential to seal both ends of the ditches in the terraces promptly and make full use of rainfall and thunderstorm water storage to increase the soil water holding capacity of the orchard.