You will realize that post-planting maintenance and services of a tree crop orchard or plantation is an all–year–round activity. It embraces various operations at different periods of the year. Properly maintaining your tree crops can help reduce the risks of weeds, diseases, and pest infestations.
This article covers key post-planting maintenance tasks, including weeding, mulching, shade management, pruning, removing lateral suckers, replacing dead plants, and controlling pests and diseases.
1. Gapping Up
Filling in gaps is typically done during the first two rainy seasons after planting, ensuring uniformity among the trees. It’s important to perform this task as soon as the rains are consistent, though exact timing can vary due to climate differences.
Adequate rainfall during and after the operation is crucial to give seedlings the water they need to grow before the dry season begins, which can lead to significant losses. The earlier you fill in gaps, the better the chance of achieving a uniform plantation. If you can provide supplemental irrigation, this task becomes less dependent on weather conditions.
2. Weed Control
Effective weed control involves removing unwanted plants from the orchard. Weeds are a significant issue, especially in poorly established fields, and are most problematic during the first four to five years before the trees form a dense canopy.
The frequency and method of weeding, as well as the use of herbicides, will vary depending on the crop. Here are some guidelines:
1. Keep the orchard free of weeds. Supplement three-row weeding with four to six path slashings per year.
2. Mulch the trees at the end of the rainy season, but avoid placing mulch too close to the base of the plants.
3. Plant plantain as a shade plant, but avoid bananas.
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3. Retention of Moisture (Mulching)
Mulching involves placing a layer of dead plant material on the soil surface to retain moisture and enrich the soil with organic matter. Properly applied mulch provides several benefits:
1. Conserves moisture around the plant.
2. Cools the soil.
3. Adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
4. Helps control weeds and acts as an anti-erosion measure.
Applying mulch leads to better crop growth, increased vigor, early canopy formation, and higher yields. Apply a 15 cm thick layer of mulch, covering an area from 15cm to 1m away from the plant’s base to discourage termites, which might first attack the mulch and then the seedlings. Vegetative mulch is preferred over synthetic materials like plastic sheets, which are more expensive and don’t add nutrients to the soil.
4. Shade Management
Many tree crops in Nigeria, originating from tropical forests, require shade during their first few years after planting. The ideal shade plant should be easy to establish, provide evenly distributed shade quickly, compete minimally with the crops for nutrients and moisture, be easy to remove when no longer needed, and not host pests or diseases. Ideally, it should also have commercial or social value. While no perfect shade plant has been identified, plantains come closest to being suitable.
In addition to permanent shade, temporary shade may be needed during the first dry season after planting. This can be provided using palm fronds and should be removed at the end of the dry season when the rains have started.
5. Pruning
Pruning is essential for removing unwanted growth, maintaining well-shaped trees, and sometimes regenerating old trees. However, unskilled pruning can cause injuries and reduce yields.
Light pruning is recommended, although the frequency will depend on the growth rate of the trees and the type of crop. Remove lateral suckers and other unwanted growth as close to the stem as possible, preferably when the tree is young, to prevent energy waste on non-productive growth.
Canopy maintenance and light pruning can be done year-round to minimize mutual shading, while heavy pruning to shape the trees should be done when the early rains start.
Use a lightweight, sharp cutlass or pruning saw for most pruning operations, and seal pruned surfaces with paint or sealing compounds to prevent disease. Lateral suckers, especially in crops like citrus and coffee, are troublesome and should be managed carefully.
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6. Establishment and Management of Cover Crops
Leguminous plants like cowpeas and Centrosena pubescens are commonly used as cover crops in tree crop cultivation, especially during the first few years before canopy establishment. Cover crops offer several benefits:
1. They prevent erosion.
2. Suppress weeds.
3. Add nitrogen to the soil.
4. Improve soil structure and cool the soil.
Cover crops should be established early, preferably before planting the main crop if the land has been clear-felled. Management is crucial; keep cover crops at least 30-40cm away from the tree crops, covering the spaces between plants. If cover crops are managed properly, they can reduce the need for herbicides. However, if poorly managed, they can become problematic weeds.
7. Water Supply (Watering/Irrigation)
In areas with adequate rainfall, watering may not be necessary. However, in regions like northern Nigeria, where the dry season can last three to six months, watering is crucial for the first two dry seasons to establish tree crops successfully.
Mulching and cover crops can help conserve water. Water the seedlings during the cooler parts of the day, preferably in the morning or evening, and avoid waterlogging, which can lead to diseases or even the death of seedlings.
8. Cropping Patterns with Tree Crops
Sole cropping is common for tree crops, especially where land is abundant. However, as land becomes scarce, intercropping with compatible annual crops during the early years before canopy formation can be economically beneficial. When intercropping, maintain a 1-meter distance from the tree crop seedlings in the first year, gradually increasing this distance as the trees grow until intercropping is no longer possible once the canopy closes.
The compound cropping system is another method, where trees are grown around the compound and receive moisture from household wastewater and nutrients from household waste. Compound crops generally receive more intensive care and are more productive than field-grown crops, although they are limited in number.
In summary, this article outlines essential maintenance practices for tree crops to ensure healthy growth and productivity. Key tasks include filling in gaps during the early rainy seasons, controlling weeds through regular weeding and mulching, and managing shade with suitable plants like plantains.
Mulching retains soil moisture, controls weeds, and enriches the soil, while pruning helps shape the trees and remove unwanted growth. The use of leguminous cover crops is recommended for soil improvement and erosion control.
In regions with long dry seasons, irrigation is crucial, especially during the first two years. Intercropping and compound cropping systems are also discussed as strategies to maximize land use and crop productivity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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