Orange has the most important place among citrus fruits in India. It is also known as mandarin. Orange is famous for its aroma, taste and health benefits. Orange fruit is used for eating and drinking juice by extracting it. There are many beneficial benefits of drinking orange juice. It protects our bodies from many diseases. Its juice provides coolness to the body and removes fatigue and stress. Farmer brothers, today, through this post of TractorJunction, we learn about orange farming / orange gardening.
Major Orange Cultivating States in India
Nagpur is famous for the cultivation of oranges in India. About 80 per cent of oranges are produced in Maharashtra. But such advanced varieties have been developed whose orange farming is possible in other states. In India, oranges are cultivated mainly in Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Improved varieties of oranges
Nagpuri orange, Khasi orange, Coorg orange, Punjab desi, Darjeeling orange and Lahore local are the main varieties of orange grown in India. Nagpur’s oranges are prominent among the best oranges in India and the world.
Temperature and Climate
Talking about the climate for orange cultivation, a dry environment is required. Orange plants do not require much water. However, orange fruits need heat to ripen. Its plants bear fruits after three to four years of planting in the field. Frost in winter is harmful to orange cultivation. Initially, for its cultivation, the temperature should be between 20 to 25 degrees at the time of planting. After that, a temperature of around 30 degrees is required to develop the plants properly. Moreover, the Mahindra 555 tractor is suitable for accomplishing farming tasks.
Suitable Soil
Orange can be cultivated in almost all types of well-drained organic soil, but deep loamy soil is considered best for it. The soil depth in the field should be up to 2 meters. The pH value of the ground should be in the range of 4.5 to 7.5.
Right Time for Cultivation
The cultivation of all crops and fruits has its own time. If it is done before or after that time, the risk of crop failure increases and a good yield is also not obtained. For example, if we talk about orange cultivation/horticulture, the best time to plant its saplings is in June, July in summer and February to March in winter.
Field Prepare
Once planted in the field, we get fruits for many years. Therefore, preparing the area well before producing the plant is very important. For example, the field should be ploughed two to three times while cultivating oranges with a cultivator to make the soil loose. After pressing, the area should be levelled by planting stakes. Hence, it becomes easy for plantation and irrigation, one month before planting the plant, by digging pits in the fields and adding manure and water to it, the fertiliser capacity of the soil increases.
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Plant Preparation
Before planting the orange plant in the field, the orange plant is prepared in the nursery. For this, mix orange seeds in ashes and leave them to dry. Then the seed is planted in the polyethene bang designed by filling soil in the nursery. Remember that only two to three sources should be grown in each bag. Orange seeds take two to three weeks to germinate.
Transplanting Method
After preparing the orange seedlings in the nursery, they are planted in the pits designed in the field. First, prepare a small pit in the pits with the help of a spade. Now remove the polythene of the plant in the small pit, put it in it, and fill it with soil from all sides. Before planting, mix 20 kg of FYM and 1 kg of superphosphate in each pit. Also, for transplanting a powertrac euro 50 tractor is best as it easily attaches with farm machinery.
Irrigation and Fertilizer
For any crop or horticulture, using the right amount of manure and fertilisers is very important. In orange farming, 500 grams of potash and phosphorus should be given to all the trees. It is also necessary to give 800 grams of nitrogen every year. Zinc and Sulphate should be used in April and June, due to which the risk of drying the trees remains negligible.
Harvesting
Orange fruits are harvested from January to March. When orange fruits look yellow and attractive, they should be cut and separated along with the stem. Cutting along with the stalk keeps the fruit fresh for a long time. After plucking the oranges, wipe them with a clean damp cloth and keep them in a shady place. After this, put dry grass in a light box and keep the fruits. Now you can close the box and send the orange fruit to sell in the market.
