Soil

• wide range of soils
• deep (2-3m)
• well drained
• free of excess salt (i.e. less than 1000ppm)
• pH 5.5-6.5

Propagation

1. a) Seed

• Sandy loam soil is best for raising citrus nurseries.
• The seeds should be sown soon after extraction within three days; otherwise it is likely to lose viability.
• Sowing of seeds is done during spring (Feb-March).
• The time taken for germination may vary from 2-3 weeks.
• Six to nine months or one year after sowing, the seedlings are transplanted in a nursery bed for hardening them.

1. b) Asexual propagation

• Budding is by far the most common method practiced universally in citriculture.
• T-budding or shield budding, patch budding
• The operation is either carried out in spring or August-September.
• Air layering
• Cutting

Planting

• Mandarin Normal spacing – 6 m x 6 m
• Sweet orange Normal spacing – 5 m x 5 m
• Limes/lemons Normal spacing – 6 x 6 m / 5 x 5 m
• pit of 1m x 1m x 1m
• Planting season- monsoon and spring

Intercropping

• should be shallow rooted, short duration, should have good canopy cover to protect soil from erosion, profit yielding
• early years of the orchard establishment
• Crop like onion, chili, potato, soybean, cabbage, can be grown as safe intercrop.