Narli Botanik Ltd. Sti.

Characteristics of Orange Fruit: • The average weight of an orange is 140 gr. Like all citrus fruits, oranges have a thick outer rind, making them easy to transport and resilient. The water concentration of the fruit in most commercial cultivars ranges from 70% to 92%, depending on the humidity and other conditions present in the trees. Fruit Yield of Orange Tree • The successful development of a commercial orange orchard depends on the climatic conditions of the region, the selection of the appropriate place for the garden, the selection of the appropriate rootstock and grafted orange sprout variety for the soil, and the agricultural methods applied (irrigation, pruning, fertilization). In general, grafted orange trees start bearing fruit from the 3rd or 4th year and continue to bear fruit for half a century as long as they are healthy. However, their most fertile period is between the ages of 10 and 40. An average healthy and mature orange tree produces 200-350 oranges. However, an experienced orange grower who has been growing oranges for years can also harvest 400 to 600 oranges per tree. Climatic Requirements of the Orange Tree • Cold weather conditions are the most important enemy of an orange tree. In the United States, orange trees are grown commercially in South America (California, Texas, Arizona, Florida). Temperatures below 0°C are dangerous for the orange tree, especially when this condition lasts for a long time. High temperatures have also proven to be critical to tree productivity. In addition, strong and cold winds can damage trees, especially the upper part of the tree, causing fruit loss and reduced quality. Soil Requirements of the Orange Tree • Orange trees like well-drained soils and do not like soils with high ground water, so soils suitable for orange trees should be light to medium heavy. Orange fruits do not grow well where other citrus fruits were produced. This is an issue associated with the accumulation of certain toxic substances or certain pathogens (usually Thielaviopsis basicola and Tylenchulus semipenetrans) in the soil. They are prone areas suitable for orange orchard because these areas are not suitable for frost lake formation. It is necessary to create a terrace on soils with a high tendency. The tree can grow in soils with a pH not exceeding 4.5 to 8, but good yields are obtained in soils with a pH of 5.5 (slightly acidic) to 6.5. The orange tree is a tree that is sensitive to soil salinity. Therefore, if the water contains high salt content, the growth and yield of trees may be restricted. Water Requirements of the Orange Tree The average orange tree responds well to irrigation practices. It has been reported that fruit development at temperatures above 37°C is twice daily in wet soil compared to dry soil. Irrigation practices are very important during the flowering period (normally in the spring). Any water stress occurring during the flowering period will cause a drastic reduction in production. There are three rules of irrigation practices in orange trees. • The first rule is to water so that the soil is always moist (but not wet) and before the soil dries out. • The second rule is that young trees need more frequent watering than mature trees. • The third rule is that trees grown on sandy soils may need up to 3 times more water than orange trees grown on clay soils.