Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.3.
Some examples of recommended between-tree and row spacings in
tropical orchards for some fruit crops.
Permanent spacing
(m)
Crop
With
fi
llers (m)
Trees/ha
Trees/ha
Acerola
2.7 × 5.5
673
5.5 × 5.5
332
4.6 × 5.5
395
Atemoya
4.5 × 9.0
247
9.0 × 9.0
124
8.0 × 12.0
104
Avocado
4.5 × 6.0
370
9.0 × 12.0
93
6.0 × 7.5
222
12.0 × 15.0
56
Fuerte
7.5 × 7.5
177
15.0 × 15.0
44
Hass
7.0 × 7.0
204
14.0 × 14.0
51
Cherimoya
5.0 × 6.0
333
5.0 × 7.6
263
Durian
10.0 × 10.0
100
Guava
3.1 × 7.6
424
6.2 × 7.6
212
4.6 × 7.6
286
Litchi
5.0 × 5.0
200
10.0 × 10.0
100
6.0 × 12.0
139
12.0 × 12.0
69
Mango
5.0 × 10.0
200
10.0 × 10.0
100
12.0 × 12.0
138
12.0 × 12.0
69
(+ one tree in
centre)
Papaya
2.4 × 3.1
1344
Passion fruit
3.3 × 4.0
1324
Sapodilla
6.6 × 6.6
400
Soursop
3.7 × 7.6
356
7.4 × 7.6
178
6.0 × 9.0
185
A large hole may be used in poor-quality soils or in good-quality soils with no
supplementary irrigation that depend only on seasonal rainfall. A hole of 80
by 80 cm or 100 by 100 cm is fi lled with a good substrate so that during the
initial years the plant will grow vigorously before the roots reach the poor or
dry soil area.
When the hole is dug, keep the topsoil in one mound and the subsoil in a
separated mound since they normally dif er in quality, with the topsoil being
better. Before planting, mix the topsoil with organic matter such as matured
moist manure or decomposed cof ee pulp or any composted product and fi ll to
the 40-50 cm mark of the 80-100 cm depth, then topsoil is added to about
30 cm from the soil surface and compacted by stepping on the materials in
the hole. The topsoil without manure is placed next to the root-ball since
fresh manure can burn the roots as it starts decomposing if in direct contact.
Manure can burn the roots either by the elevated temperature produced by
decomposition or by the salts that it releases. If the manure is well decomposed
