Effects of planting distances on production by Washington Navel orange

Abstract

A field experiment with four planting distances of Washington Navel orange on Sweet Orange rootstocks was planted at Loxton, South Australia, in 1963. Trees were 7.3 m apart between rows and 7.3 (normal), 5.5, 4.4 and 3-7 m apart within rows. At six years the yield per hectare from trees planted at 3.7 m was 121% greater than from those planted at 7.3 m. At 14 years, closely planted trees had continued to outyield those more widely spaced even though they were slightly reduced in width. Cumulative yield per hectare from 3.7 m plantings after 14 years was 150 t (68%) more than from 7.3 m plantings and this fruit was worth $18 000 when calculated on the average return to growers in 1981.