Research conducted by UF/IFAS shows that frequent, small applications of water is best for HLB-infected citrus.

Researchers with UF/IFAS have found that frequent, small applications of water is best for HLB-infected citrus, according to a UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article. The article maintained that, “Prolonged water deficits can negatively impact flowering, fruit growth, crop load and fruit quality.” Florida’s dry season is the most likely time for these prolonged water deficits to occur, and “This is particularly true for the sweet orange variety Valencia because flowering and fruit maturation periods overlap with the dry season,” according to the article. UF/IFAS researchers conducted experiments concerning irrigation to reach this conclusion. See the details below.

Testing Irrigation for HLB-Infected Citrus

The experiments into irrigation for HLB-infected citrus used “irrigation on control trees [that] ran every other day for two hours (grower standard). Irrigation on the experimental trees ran three times every day for 20 minutes at a time. Both sets of trees received the same amount of water over time, but the experimental trees received water more often and in smaller amounts,” according to the article.

Results of the experiment included:

  • “Trees receiving the frequent irrigation consistently had higher soil moisture content and mid-afternoon leaf water potential.”
  • “Trees receiving the frequent irrigation consistently had higher soil moisture content and mid-afternoon leaf water potential.”
  • “In 2023, the control trees saw a drought-stress-induced flowering event in late May that was not observed in the experimental trees. This all culminated in higher yields (more than double) at harvest over the two-year course of the study.”

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