Yield and Fruit Character of Central Leader Trained ‘Ishiji’ Satsuma Mandarin Trees in Multi-Cultivated for 11 years after Planting

Abstract

Yield and fruit characteristics of the central-leader-trained Satsuma mandarin ‘Ishiji’ multi-cultivated for 11 years after planting

For central-leader-type “Ishiji” Satsuma mandarin trees, the ground is covered with a moisture-permeable and light-reflecting sheet from the 2^nd week after blooming until the harvest time. The trees are cultivated with a multi-cultivation system using water irrigation adjusted to the growth stage. The impact on Satsuma mandarin fruit yields and quality have been studied for 11 years since planting. The results showed that the yield reached the field production target of 2.8 t/10 a in the third year after planting, in comparison with an open center trained trees, and the trees were able to stably produce fruit with equal to or more than 12 sugar-acid ratio （ratio of soluble solid to titratable acidity）, with high prices and high rate of S-M-L grading ranks. Compared to open center trained trees, the central-leader-trained trees with multi- cultivation were evaluated as having high quality and high yields with early fruiting.

Also, a period of long research presented an issue of water control limitation due to root zone expansion.