Formation pruning in Persian lemon plants during the establishment stage

The agronomic management of the Persian lemon crop in the region of Huimanguillo, Tabasco, presents limitations that are manifested from the establishment of the plantation, such as the inadequate formation of the trees in the implantation stage. The objective of the study was to evaluate the response of formation pruning (FP) in young plants of Persian lemon (Citrus latifolia Tanaka), accompanied by agronomic practices in a commercial plantation of eight months of age grafted on sour orange. The research was conducted from March to December 2021 in Ejido Libertad Agraria, Municipality of Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico. Classical statistics were used to describe the behavior of rootstock trunk diameter, Persian lemon trunk diameter, the relationship between both trunks, as trunk response variables, and total height, lower height, real height and crown diameter, as crown response variables. A completely randomized design with five treatments was established. Two rows with 30 Persian lemon trees each were used, where each tree was an experimental unit. The treatments were: (T1) control or natural growth, (T2) pruning, (T3) pruning+pruning, (T4) pruning+pruning+fertilization and (T5) pruning+pruning+fertilization+bio-stimulation. T4 developed the largest rootstock trunk diameter (4.75 cm), expressed the best vegetative growth and development in the formation of well-distributed branches and outperformed the rest of the treatments evaluated. T4 developed the largest Persian Lemon Stem Diameter (SLD) (4.73 cm), compared to the other treatments. T3 and T4 shared the best trunk ratio compatibility. From the present study, it was possible to suggest agronomic management recommendations applicable to the needs and resources of growers in the region, such as adequate pruning at planting time, soil ridging to improve aeration and nutrient absorption, and fractional fertilization.