Citrus Production Topics
HLB (Greening)
Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is one of the most serious citrus
diseases. It is a bacterial disease that attacks the vascular system of plants.
Once infected, there is no cure for the disease and the fruit is bitter and inedible.
The economics of the alternative ways of management strategies are:
- A standard program means that the grove is scouted 4x/yr and infected trees are
removed immediately, or
- A foliar HLB program applies nutritional elements to treat HLB induced symptoms
and infected trees are NOT removed.
Worksheet: NPV Analysis to compare alternative
HLB management strategies
This worksheet allows you to enter your information to determine the net present
value of each method for your grove.
Economic Considerations of Managing HLB Through
a Foliar Nutritional Strategy
Fritz Roka, Robert Rouse, and Phil Stansly. Presented at Future of the Global Orange
Juice Industry Workshop, April 6, 2010
A Citrus Yield Case Block Study
This is an ongoing study with participating growers in the SW Florida region. We
have been collecting yield information for Hamlin and Valencia blocks that were
initially stabled in the 1980’s, with some of the blocks having 19 year old trees.
The two graphs representing the accumulated data can be viewed below. The published
paper can also be read below.
Comparison of Yields by Tree Age and Rootstock
in Southwest Florida Orange Groves, F.M. Roka, R.E. Rouse, R.P. Muraro,
2000. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 113:115-119
As a result of not having a more current source of information, citrus managers
often base production expectations on the Savage yield tables developed 40 years
ago. This paper presents the first analysis of citrus production data collected
in southwest Florida for eight scion/rootstock combinations. The results reflect
trees planted since 1984 with high density tree spacing.