Quick stats
| Family | Rutaceae |
|---|---|
| Typical harvest | 17.3 t/ha |
| Varieties | 3 |
| Pests & diseases | 8 |
| Seasons | 3 |
Crop profile
| Growth habit | tree |
|---|---|
| Days to harvest | perennial |
| Main uses | Fresh fruit; juice/processing |
| Pollination | insect |
| Origin / where it grows | SE Asia origin; grown in humid/semi-humid tropics & subtropics |
Weather, soil & spacing
| Best temperature | 20–30 °C |
|---|---|
| Rainfall | 900–1400 mm/yr |
| Altitude | 0–1800 m |
| Best pH | 6–7 |
| Soil type | Deep, well-drained loam/sandy loam; high organic matter |
| Row spacing | 600 cm |
| Plant spacing | 600 cm |
| Seed rate | kg/ha (check local recommendation) |
| Nursery days | 270 |
Simple notes for farmers
About the crop: This crop has a growth habit described as "tree". You can normally start harvesting about perennial days after planting, depending on care and variety.
Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fresh fruit; juice/processing.
Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.
Where it grows: SE Asia origin; grown in humid/semi-humid tropics & subtropics It is grouped under: Fruits & Nuts.
Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 900 to 1400 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 1800 metres above sea level.
Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 7. It does well in deep, well-drained loam/sandy loam; high organic matter. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.
Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 600 centimetres apart, and leave about 600 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.
Seed or planting material: Use good quality seed or healthy planting material. Follow local extension advice for the exact amount per hectare.
Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 270 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.
Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)
Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal at planting | 0 | Compost + DAP 18-46-0 (light) | 5 kg/tree (compost) + 100 g DAP | N: —, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: — | Mix in backfill; keep fertilizer off stem |
| 2 | Vegetative split N | 90 | CAN 26% N | 150 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Ring-apply under canopy; water in |
| 3 | Pre-bloom balanced | 250 | NPK 17-17-17 | 200 g/tree | N: 10, P₂O₅: 10, K₂O: 10 | Light dose before bloom |
| 4 | Fruit fill K boost | 320 | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 250 g/tree | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: 20 | Prefer SOP for fruit quality |
| 5 | Micronutrient foliar | 300 | Zn/Mn/B foliar (as label) | 0 — | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Apply during cool hours |
Nutrient requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 60 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 40 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 80 | kg/ha |
| N | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Establishment | 20 | kg/ha |
| N | Vegetative | 50 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Vegetative | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Flower_set | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Flower_set | 20 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Flower_set | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Fruit_fill | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Fruit_fill | 60 | kg/ha |
| N | Maintenance | 40 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Maintenance | 10 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Maintenance | 40 | kg/ha |
Field images (picha shambani)
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Tangerine | KE | 720 | Sweet; easy peel |
| Local mandarin selection | KE | 900 | Good peelability; fresh market |
| Clementine-type selection | TZ | 900 | High juice; sweet; small–medium fruit |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | Compost (well-decomposed) | 4000 | Mulch rings |
| Vegetative | CAN 26% N | 80 | Split 2–3× on young trees |
| Fruit fill | Sulfate of potash (SOP) | 60 | Quality improvement |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus psyllid | pest | Leaf curling; honeydew | Monitoring; IPM; prune |
| Fruit flies (Tephritidae) | pest | Stings; larval tunnels; fruit drop | Protein baiting; sanitation; fruit bagging; timely harvest |
| Citrus aphids | pest | Leaf curl; honeydew/sooty mold; virus risk | Control ants; conserve predators; selective sprays if needed |
| Scales & mealybugs | pest | Sticky honeydew; sooty mold; twig decline | Prune for airflow; oils/soft insecticides; biological control |
| Citrus psyllid (HLB vector) | pest | Shoot distortion; HLB risk | Vector monitoring; rogue infected plants; IPM program |
| Citrus canker | disease | Corky lesions on leaves/fruit | Sanitation; windbreaks; copper protectants |
| Phytophthora gummosis/root rot | disease | Gum exudation; collar rot; decline | Good drainage; avoid trunk wetting; phosphonates if needed |
| Greasy spot/sooty blotch | disease | Leaf spots; premature drop | Canopy opening; protectants in wet weather |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| orchard | 15 | 8 | 25 | |
| smallholder rainfed | 12 | 8 | 18 | 25–50 kg/tree common at maturity |
| irrigated/intensive | 25 | 15 | 35 | Good cultivars, pruning, nutrition |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Coastal & mid-altitudes (long rains) | Mar–Apr | Jul–Nov |
| KE | Coastal & mid-altitudes (short rains) | Oct–Nov | Feb–Jun |
| TZ | Coastal belt | Mar–Apr | Aug–Dec |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Coastal & mid-altitudes | High |
| KE | Cool highlands (>1800 m) | Low |
| KE | Low to mid-altitudes | High |
| TZ | Coastal belt & isles | High |
| UG | Warm lowlands (lake shore) | Medium |