Navel Group Citrus: Compact Trees and Early Production

In a citrus orchard in the province of Matera, we observe trees belonging to varieties of the Navel group which, approximately two and a half years after transplanting, have developed bushy canopies and are already showing promising initial fruit production. The orchard is undergoing a transformation: new trees have been introduced between the existing ones, changing the planting pattern from 5 × 4 metres to 5 × 2 metres, equivalent to 1,000 trees per hectare.

The objective is to occupy the available space as quickly as possible with productive vegetation, while reducing the need to develop long structural branches. The five-metre row spacing is maintained to allow machinery access and facilitate orchard management, while within the row the trees are progressively forming a continuous fruiting wall.

International research provides support for this approach. A study on Nagpur mandarin published in Scientific Reports reported higher yields per hectare in higher-density plantings, particularly during the early harvests. However, this advantage requires canopy management capable of maintaining adequate light penetration and air circulation. Planting density must therefore be adapted to the combination of cultivar, rootstock, and growing environment.

When observing the young trees, we can see branches becoming increasingly covered with vegetation and tending to bend, contributing to the development of a compact structure. Fruiting also plays a role in maintaining vegetative balance. Studies on certain citrus species have shown that the carbohydrate demand of developing fruit can limit shoot growth. Early production can therefore contribute to controlling vigour, provided that the crop load remains proportionate to the development of the tree.

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Pruning supports this process through selective interventions inspired by the Zaragoza principles: reduction cuts on branches extending beyond the desired canopy profile and targeted opening cuts in excessively dense areas. The aim is to maintain a productive wall that is accessible, well illuminated, and capable of continuously renewing its productive shoots.

The soil has also been reorganized, with raised beds created along the tree rows after transplanting and prepared for the installation of double drip lines. This operation must be carried out while protecting the roots and root collar and ensuring adequate drainage and water runoff.

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With 1,000 trees per hectare, an average yield of 35–40 kg per tree is equivalent to 350–400 quintals per hectare. These are production targets that must be evaluated together with fruit quality and management costs. The experience of this citrus orchard in Matera illustrates a practical direction: making early use of the available space while establishing, from the first years, a balanced relationship between vegetative growth and production.

Editorial Note:

Original content by Agronomist Dr. Vito Vitelli, developed and optimized with the support of artificial intelligence tools for educational, informational, and technical communication purposes.

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