According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), citrus became the world’s largest fruit crop in 2024, with a rapidly expanding cultivation area. However, many citrus orchards in major production regions were established during the 1980s and 1990s, and a large number of trees have now entered the aging stage.
Aging citrus orchards commonly suffer from root system decline, reduced nutrient uptake capacity, decreasing yield, declining fruit quality, and intensified alternate bearing. Meanwhile, soil acidification, compaction, and pathogen accumulation have become increasingly serious, resulting in higher incidences of Huanglongbing (HLB), root rot, and nematode diseases. Production costs continue to rise while economic returns decline. In some regions, outdated varieties combined with tree aging have weakened industry competitiveness and threatened the stability of global citrus production.
How can these challenges be addressed?
1. Renovation of Healthy Aging Trees
For trees younger than 20 years old with healthy trunks and no severe diseases, rejuvenation pruning can be carried out through canopy reduction and renewal. Weak, diseased, and unproductive branches should be removed. Expand planting holes along the drip line, improve soil conditions, and apply organic fertilizers and microbial inoculants to regulate soil conditions and stimulate new root growth.
Meanwhile, optimize water and fertilizer management, provide balanced supplementation of secondary and micronutrients, restore tree vigor, and extend the productive lifespan of citrus orchards.
2. Top-Grafting for Moderately Declining Orchards
For aging trees with a strong structural framework, top-grafting can be adopted to replace old varieties with new, high-value commercial varieties.
Compared with complete orchard replanting, top-grafting can shorten the time to commercial production by 2–3 years, maximize existing orchard resources, and accelerate variety improvement.
3. Orchard Reconstruction for Severely Declining Trees
For orchards with severe trunk decay, serious diseases, or trees that cannot recover after rejuvenation measures, complete removal and reconstruction are recommended.
After tree removal, soil disinfection and soil improvement should be conducted. New orchards should be established using certified disease-free seedlings, suitable rootstocks, and optimized planting density to ensure long-term productivity.
4. Establish Long-Term Prevention and Management Systems
Promote the use of certified disease-free planting materials to extend orchard lifespan.
Establish orchard tree-age management records and develop regular renewal plans. Improve integrated green pest and disease management systems to prevent premature aging. Meanwhile, provide policy support for orchard renovation projects to reduce the economic burden on growers.
5. Focus on the Application of Biostimulants
During routine water and fertilizer management, greater attention should be given to the application of humic acid-based products, amino acid-based products, seaweed extracts, and microbial inoculants.
These products can help improve soil physical and chemical properties, maintain root vitality and nutrient absorption capacity, enhance plant stress resistance, support normal physiological metabolism, restore tree vigor, and reduce alternate bearing.
As a globally recognized supplier of biostimulants, CityMax Group provides products that are marketed in more than 70 countries worldwide. The company has extensive experience in citrus cultivation, and its products have been widely validated in citrus production systems.
Key products include:
Humic acid-based products:MAX UNIQUE HUMATE 100, ULTRA HUMIMAX, MAX HUMIBUILD, MAX BLACK PEARL
Seaweed-based products:MAX SEASAILER, SEAMAX
Amino acid-based products:ULTRA AMINO MAX, MAX AMINO N8, AMINOMIX, MAX AMINOACID 50
Three-acid composite products:ORGANMIX, ULTRA FULVIC LQ
Microbial products:DIAMOND MAX, TRIBIOMAX, BIOFUSION
Frequently Asked QuestionQ: Which products can be used to improve citrus tree aging and decline?
A: Citrus aging leads to reduced physiological activity, weakened root systems, and declining nutrient absorption capacity. During daily water and fertilizer management, the application of biostimulant products should be emphasized.
Humic acids, amino acids, seaweed extracts, and beneficial microbial products can help improve soil conditions, maintain root activity, enhance nutrient uptake, increase stress resistance, support normal tree metabolism, restore tree vigor, and reduce alternate bearing.
For detailed citrus nutrition management programs, please contact us by email or phone.
Link：https://www.citymax-group.com/
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Company Name: Xi’an Citymax AgroChemical Co.,Ltd.
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Country: China
Website: https://www.citymax-group.com/