Fruit Tree Nursery Establishing
Content ◦ Subtropical fruit trees, background: avocado, mango, citrus (distribution, global production, botany) ◦ Introduction: Fruit tree nurseries the need, selecting propagation method, climate, growth conditions (salt, lime, specific disease. Etc) ◦ Nursery site selection: Climatic requirements, terrain, water source, electricity, road connection, social considerations ◦ Nursery design: locating all the nursery functions ◦ Area preparation ◦ Fruit tree nursery establishment: potential structures, materials and investment, specifications list ◦ Nursery supplies
Avocado Global Distribution “Missing” in map: • East Africa • China
Source: FAOSTAT
World Avocado Production (MT) Mexico
1,316,104
Indonesia
294,200
Dominican Republic
290,011
United States of America
245,000
Colombia
219,352
Peru
215,000
Kenya
186,292
Chile
160,000
Brazil
159,903
China, mainland
110,000
Avocado - Botany Genus: Avocado
Family: Lauraceae
Subgenus: Ariadna Subgenus: Persea
Species: • Persea schiedeana nees
• Persea parvifolia williams • Persea americana mill (domesticated varieties)
West Indian
Guatemalan
Races: Guatemalan, Mexican, West Indian
Mexican
Avocado Races The so called horticultural Avocado races are not defined botanically but recognized as geographic ecotypes. The west Indian race is called also low land avocado, the trees are cold sensitive, the fruit a little bit sweet. The Mexican race has a typical anise smell of the leaves, its fruit is high in oil content and it is tolerant to cold.
The Guatemalan avocado trees are huge their fruit is round an their skin is thick. The commercial varieties are usually hybrids of different races.
Mango, Botany, Origin and Distribution  The mango is a juicy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of
numerous tropical fruiting trees, cultivated mostly for edible fruit. They all belong to the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae.
 The mango is native to South and Southeast Asia, from where it has been distributed worldwide to become one of the most cultivated fruits in the tropics.  The center of diversity of the Mangifera genus is in India. (Wikipedia)
Mango Global Production
http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/mango-producing-countries.html
Production x 1,000 MT (2011) • India – 15,188 • China – 4,350 • Thailand – 2,600 • Indonesia – 2,131 • Pakistan – 1,888 • Mexico – 1,827 • Brazil 1,249 • Bangladesh 889 • Nigeria 850 • Philippines - 800
Major Types of Mangoes Poly-embryonic: more than one embryo, zygotic (sexual cross) and nucellar (maternal tissue). Mono-embryonic: all embryos are derived from sexual cross
Mono-embryonic (left) vs poly-embryonic (right)
Source: S. Shmoeli
CITRUS BOTANY FAMILY: RUTACEAE
C. MEDICA CEDRAT
CITRUS
PAPEDA
C. AURANTIUM ORANGE
C. GRANDIS POMELO
C. LIMON CITRON
C. RETICULATA MANDARIN
C. PARADISI grapefruit
C.AURANTIFOLIA - LIMA
11/7/2016
10
Source: S. Shmoeli
Citrus Origin & Distribution THE ORIGIN OF THE ORANGE IS IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA. EVIDENCE FOR CITRUS CULTIVATION IN CHINA FROM 2200 Bc and LATER IN IRAN and EGYPT.
IN NORTH AFRICA IT HAD BEEN CULTIVATED SINCE THE 2nd & 3rd CENTURY. AROUND THE YRAR 1000 - SOME TREES IN SOUTH OF EUROPE
Citrus Global Distribution & Production (35N to 35S) Production x1,000 Tones China 5,500 Nigeria 3,900 Columbia 765 India 600 Guinea 240 Angola 200 Syria 185 Philippines 178 Source: FAOSTAT 2012
Fruit Tree Nursery: The Need Why fruit tree nurseries are needed? Replacing old plantations: the yield deteriorate after several years even when the plantation is well maintained
Introduction of new varieties/rootstock: to achieve better yields, better shelf life, address export requirements, adapt to various biotic and abiotic stress Increasing production: to address larger market demand
New planting areas: nurseries are established near the fruit production sites Nurseries may also serve as center of excellence: source for advanced agrotech and agro-inputs
How to Calculate The Need? Example: Mango Trees Need in China Mango Area – 460,000 Ha (FAO-Stat, 2012) Characteristics – 800 target number of trees per Ha, rootstocks, low quality and low yields, Plantation life span – 20 years Potential need of plants – 460,000*800/20= 18M plants (without expansion of cultivated area) Economic potential – 18 MXUSD2.5=USD 45 M Demand for plants will grow with export varieties
Selecting Nursery Technique Nursery technique is selected according to the target crop: Seed germination: merely (papaya) or combined with grafting (avocado, mango, citrus)
Rooting of cuttings (olive) Grafting (cleft – avocado, mango, veneer - mango, budding - citrus, etc.) Layering (soil layering, air layering - litchi) (Discussion of technical aspects of the above nursery techniques in later lecture) Nursery facilities are “affected” by the chosen nursery crop & technique. For example: Olive nursery require rooting facility (high humidity, rooting tables, etc.)
Nursery site selection The consideration for best nursery site selection are: Climate: the climate should promote optimal growth rate and avoid damage. For example: avocado nursery site should be frost free. Temperatures at the high 20s for all year round are optimal. Water source: sufficient amount of water of good quality (EC) from bore well, river, reservoir, etc. Power: reliable power supply is needed mainly for water pumping. Usually, using connection to country power lines is preferred over the use of generator. Generator backup if the power supply is not consistent
Road access: good road access is needed for nursery supplies and product transportation Source of labor: nearby source of nursery staff Plant material: Nursery MCG or nearby plantations for rootstocks (seeds) & variety (scions)
Nursery Site Selection Example Nursery site
Climate Access Water Electric soil Power mix
Profes. Labor MCG TOTAL
Bicolo
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
22
Addis Zemen
2
2
2
2
2
1
3
2
16
Ambacel
3
0
3
0
3
3
3
2
17
Alemata
3
2
3
1
3
3
3
1
19
Rawyan
3
2
2
2
2
1
3
0
15
Nursery Design: Nursery functions Mother clone garden Soil preparation & storage (soil, compost, fertilizers) Fertigation: irrigation and fertilizer application system Seed germination (beds, sleeves) Seedlings in poly-bags (pre/post grafting)
Transport of products (parking lot) Office and indoor storage
Nursery Design (scheme) PUMP HOUSE
Water source
TRANSFORMER
SHADE NET STRUCTURE
MCG
NURSERY CENTRAL ROAD
OFFICE/STORAGE
LOADING PARKING
SOIL PREP.
Soil Preparation & Storage Area The nursery’s soil preparation area contain:
Adequate soil available locally: volcanic gravel (Tuff), sandy loam, coarse river sand Waste materials: rice shells, coffee husks
Prepared soil/fertilizer: compost, decomposed manure Fertilizer bags are stored indoor
Mother Clone Garden (MCG) MCG Types: MCG for scions, MCG for rootstocks Goal: Maximum production of scions or max production of seeds Requirements: Good soil preparation; Protection of plants; Fertigation system; Tagging & mapping of each plant; Excellent nutrition for vegetative development, removal of most fruits when scions are the goal; Design of trees – low stature, large surface area
Seed Germination
ďƒ˜Seeds may be germinated in soil at raised beds (bed height depend on the drainage needed) or on tables in polyethylene sleeves.
ďƒ˜ Seed germination may be done in polybags when the expected germination rate is high
Potting Area ďƒ˜ The area for plant growth in polybags (before and after grafting) is under 5060% shade net (net house) structure ďƒ˜ The polybags are located on elevated soil beds with access from both sides or on bent construction net
Hardening: In Nursery Plant Preparation for Field Planting Preparing of nursery plants to stand field conditions may be achieved through: Exposure to full sun light by transfer to “Open nursery” Reduced irrigation regime
Parking Lot for Uploading & Downloading ďƒ˜ Plant loading, packing & stuffing to minimize plant movement during the travel Protection from wind and drying. ďƒ˜ Down loading of raw materials
Nursery Area Preparation Site preparation: Clearing: removal of obstacles such as site’s previous vegetation Plowing: deep plowing to eradicate roots and other obstacles under soil level Leveling of the soil Beds preparation (when necessary) Cost estimate (Ethiopia): USD 2,000
Simple Nursery Construction The shade house is built from eucalyptus poles and covered by temporary shade (dry leaves). Irrigation by water cans. Investment estimate for a nursery with 50,000 plants capacity (Ethiopia) – USD 5,000 Nursery’s life time: 5-7 years Reasonable results can be achieved if good planting material, poly begs and soil mix are used
Modern Nursery Construction Shade net structure (50-60% shade, HDPE), Fertigation (irrigation & fertilizer application) system
Irrigation by micro sprinklers with hose pipe & shower head backup Nursery’s life time – 10 years Investment estimate for a nursery with 50,000 plants’ capacity (Ethiopia) – USD 50,000
Irrigation & Fertilizer Application Nursery fertigation system include: Water source: well, river, pond Pumping
Head control Filters, fertilizer tank Water pipes, emitters
Irrigation and Fertilizer Application Nursery emitting system: ď ą Dripper for each poly-bag ď ą Mini sprinklers above the plants
Specifications (Example List to Contractor) 1. Site background and sketch: Uke
The site (125X80m) is located 300 m from the main road (Bahir Dar to Nekemte North-South 40 minutes from Nekemte) and the power line. A small hill bordered part of the west side (marked in brown and dotted line) and a small river lies at the east, a designated pool is shown in the sketch (marked in blue). Small coffee nursery is located at the southwest corner. The site will be divided by a central road (marked in brown). Beds (yellow in the sketch) direction is north-south. The width of each bed is 1.2 m and the distance between the beds is 0.8 m. The beds height is 20 cm. The total amount of beds in each half of the nursery will be 80/2=40. The site have been cleared and leveled off with a slight slope towards the river
Main Road & Power line
OFFICE
Coffee Nurs.
8 0
6 0
60
Specifications Example (cont.) Net supply – black shade net (60%), the size of the net – 80x125 meter Net structure construction – the net structure should cover an area of 1Ha (125X80m, see sketch) , net’s height should be 2.20 meters above the ground, support by iron cables and treated (against termites) wooden poles (2.50 meters long) or adequate metal poles support – at distances of 4x4 meter and anchored at the two sides of each cable. Cable diameter 8 mm, wooden pole diameter – 10 cm.
Irrigation and fertilizer application system – the irrigation system (mini sprinklers connected to the net structure) should take water from the river and reservoir may be increased if necessary (see sketch marked in blue) and supply to all plants by mini sprinklers. Backup system of hose pipes with shower heads
Irrigation and Fertilizer Application System Uke nursery scheme – Irri Al Tal
Breakdown of Nursery Investment (50,000 plants)
Nursery Supplies Soil components Fertilizers and pesticides Seeds Polybags Scions and seeds (unless local MCG is available)
Labor Water, electricity Miscellaneous
Nursery Operation Costs (Ethiopia, 2011) Operation costs at nursery with capacity of 50,000 plants:
Labor costs –
USD 8450 (51%)
Other operation costs – USD 8,100 (49%) TOTAL OPERATION COSTS – USD 16,550 Per plant cost (sold or not) – USD 0.35