Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions
Florida citrus production has declined by over 90% since the bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB) was found in the state. In the absence of an effective cure, growers are adopting more frequent fertilization and irrigation practices to improve tree health and prolong the life span of their orchards...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Ankit Pokhrel Ramdas Kanissery Sarah L. Strauss Ute Albrecht |
| author_facet | Ankit Pokhrel Ramdas Kanissery Sarah L. Strauss Ute Albrecht |
| author_sort | Ankit Pokhrel |
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| description | Florida citrus production has declined by over 90% since the bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB) was found in the state. In the absence of an effective cure, growers are adopting more frequent fertilization and irrigation practices to improve tree health and prolong the life span of their orchards. However, Florida’s soils under citrus production are sandy, with little organic matter, a low water holding capacity, and a low cation exchange capacity (CEC), rendering them prone to nutrient leaching. Organic amendments can be used to improve soil health and the environment for citrus roots, but may promote a higher incidence of weeds competing with trees for water and nutrients. A large field trial was established in a commercial citrus orchard in southwest Florida to evaluate the effects of organic amendments and weed management on young tree growth. The organic amendment treatments were as follows: (1) plant-based compost, (2) humic acid, and (3) a non-amended control. The weed management (herbicide) treatments were (1) glyphosate, (2) glufosinate, (3) flumioxazin, and (4) a maintenance herbicide control. Trees were planted in August 2019, and treatments began in 2021. Tree growth and physiological variables and soil physicochemical properties were evaluated during the two-year study. Compost-amended plots had a higher volumetric water content throughout the experiment, and soil nutrient content, organic matter, CEC, and pH were higher after two years of application. Humic acid amendments were less effective in altering these soil properties. Compost’s effects on tree and fibrous root physiology were moderate, and tree growth, fruit yield and fruit quality were not affected by either organic amendment. In contrast, the use of post-emergent herbicides (glyphosate and glufosinate) improved tree growth and nutrient uptake. The results suggest that in Florida, the use of organic amendments needs to be integrated with weed management to prevent resource competition. In the short term, these practices did not improve the productivity of the trees in the current Florida production environment. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-a681ffab60dd4ad586f36780b5496b8e2025-08-20T03:14:19ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115477210.3390/agronomy15040772Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic ConditionsAnkit Pokhrel0Ramdas Kanissery1Sarah L. Strauss2Ute Albrecht3Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USASouthwest Florida Research and Education Center, Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USASouthwest Florida Research and Education Center, Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USASouthwest Florida Research and Education Center, Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL 34142, USAFlorida citrus production has declined by over 90% since the bacterial disease huanglongbing (HLB) was found in the state. In the absence of an effective cure, growers are adopting more frequent fertilization and irrigation practices to improve tree health and prolong the life span of their orchards. However, Florida’s soils under citrus production are sandy, with little organic matter, a low water holding capacity, and a low cation exchange capacity (CEC), rendering them prone to nutrient leaching. Organic amendments can be used to improve soil health and the environment for citrus roots, but may promote a higher incidence of weeds competing with trees for water and nutrients. A large field trial was established in a commercial citrus orchard in southwest Florida to evaluate the effects of organic amendments and weed management on young tree growth. The organic amendment treatments were as follows: (1) plant-based compost, (2) humic acid, and (3) a non-amended control. The weed management (herbicide) treatments were (1) glyphosate, (2) glufosinate, (3) flumioxazin, and (4) a maintenance herbicide control. Trees were planted in August 2019, and treatments began in 2021. Tree growth and physiological variables and soil physicochemical properties were evaluated during the two-year study. Compost-amended plots had a higher volumetric water content throughout the experiment, and soil nutrient content, organic matter, CEC, and pH were higher after two years of application. Humic acid amendments were less effective in altering these soil properties. Compost’s effects on tree and fibrous root physiology were moderate, and tree growth, fruit yield and fruit quality were not affected by either organic amendment. In contrast, the use of post-emergent herbicides (glyphosate and glufosinate) improved tree growth and nutrient uptake. The results suggest that in Florida, the use of organic amendments needs to be integrated with weed management to prevent resource competition. In the short term, these practices did not improve the productivity of the trees in the current Florida production environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/772citrus greeninghumic substancesweed controlherbicidessoil healthroot health |
| spellingShingle | Ankit Pokhrel Ramdas Kanissery Sarah L. Strauss Ute Albrecht Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions Agronomy citrus greening humic substances weed control herbicides soil health root health |
| title | Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions |
| title_full | Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions |
| title_short | Integration of Organic Amendments and Weed Management to Improve Young Citrus Tree Growth Under HLB-Endemic Conditions |
| title_sort | integration of organic amendments and weed management to improve young citrus tree growth under hlb endemic conditions |
| topic | citrus greening humic substances weed control herbicides soil health root health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/772 |
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