Citrus in Pisticci (Matera): Building the Canopy Without Rushing
In the countryside around
Pisticci, I visit the citrus orchard of Gaetano La Viola. The trees were
planted in May 2023 and, when we filmed the video in April 2025, they were not
yet two years old. The canopies are already well developed, and flowering fills
the air with fragrance. Gaetano is not a professional citrus grower, but he
manages the orchard with passion and care. For the time being, the results are
remarkable.
The canopy has not been developed
through drastic pruning cuts. We intervened four or five times, tipping the
most vigorous shoots (15–20 cm) when they reached approximately 30–40 cm in
length. This encouraged the production of new branches. Branches that were
allowed to grow and subsequently bent under their own weight also became well
covered with vegetation. In young citrus trees, maintaining an adequate leaf
area supports growth and helps the plant sustain its first fruit crop. For this
reason, the University of California recommends restrained pruning. ipm.ucanr.edu
Gaetano does not cultivate the
soil; instead, he manages the spontaneous vegetation by mowing and shredding
it. Between the rows, the soil remains covered and feels soft underfoot. In a
study conducted on citrus orchards on sloping land, certain sown ground covers
reduced runoff, erosion, and nutrient losses. Here, the vegetation is
spontaneous and the conditions are different, but the principle of protecting
the soil remains valid. During dry periods, however, it is still necessary to
ensure that the grass does not compete excessively with the young trees for
water. agris.fao.org
Irrigation is provided by two
drip lines, with emitters spaced every 50 cm. Both the flow rate and the
distribution of water below the soil surface should be checked. In loamier
soils, the wetted zone tends to spread laterally, creating an onion-shaped profile,
whereas in highly draining soils, water may penetrate more deeply, producing a
carrot-shaped profile. Therefore, the spacing between emitters alone does not
tell us how much of the soil is actually being irrigated. As the trees grow, we
will assess whether to gradually move the drip lines to approximately 50–60 cm
from the trunk on each side, observing where moisture and roots are
concentrated. ucanr.edu
One improvement remains to be
studied: facilitating water drainage along the row. In a new orchard, I would
have prepared raised planting beds before planting. Here, we can consider
creating shallow lateral drainage furrows, selecting their spacing and depth
carefully so as not to damage the existing roots. Drainage also helps maintain
air-filled pore space in the soil. If the soil remains saturated for too long,
citrus roots receive less oxygen, and their functioning may be impaired. edis.ifas.ufl.edu
With a planting spacing of
4.5–5.0 × 2.0–2.5 metres, the orchard contains approximately 800–900 trees per
hectare. If the first harvest produces 10–15 kilograms per tree, the
theoretical yield would exceed 100 quintals per hectare. The flowering looks promising,
but yield is ultimately measured on the scales. We will therefore continue to
observe and refine the orchard together with Gaetano: this is how a good start
becomes a productive citrus orchard.
Editorial Note:
Original content by Agronomist Dr Vito Vitelli, prepared and refined
with the support of artificial intelligence tools for educational,
informational, and technical communication purposes.
Outreach activities carried out in collaboration with:
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