Physico-chemical status and yield of fruits of declined khasi mandarin orchards in Meghalaya

The main cause of the mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) decline in Meghalaya are the result of improper planting, faulty cultural practices, inter cropping in orchards, lack of plant protection measures, under nutrition, aging of plants and steep slopes in orchards. The extensive survey during 2000 revealed that reduction in yield and fruit weight was recorded more than 82 per cent and upto 30 per cent respectively in declined orchards. The study revealed that yield, fruit weight, fruit size, rind thicknes, juice content and T.S.S./acid ratio reduced in declined orchards, whereas, ascorbic acid and acidity in fruits had the increasing trend. It was also recorded that the productivity was much reduced in 40 years of declined orchard. Hence, the declined orchards from 10–30 year of age may be rejuvenated by adopting the location specific regenerated technology.