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orange

Citrus × sinensis (L.) Osbeck

Family: Rutaceae · Genus: Citrus

sweet orange

Secondary I High No biomass production
Ellen Levy Finch (Elf) · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Citrus fruit tree widely used in Brazilian agroforestry systems. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and cites it among Abundance-system species. Flowers strongly attract bees (Apis mellifera).

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5–6.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones
9–11
Frost tolerance
-4.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
4–10 m
Recommended spacing
4–6 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
≥ 30 years
Time to first harvest
36 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Orange takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High · ≈10 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Deep, permeable sandy-clay soils, pH ~5.0–6.5; a taproot system that can go several metres deep but is sensitive to water stress and waterlogging. Typical spacing 6–7 m between rows × 2.5–4 m between trees. Usually grown as a grafted tree on a rootstock. In the southern hemisphere floral induction peaks in late winter (Jul–Aug), with spring bloom.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of orange?

The first harvest of orange comes around 36 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for orange?

The recommended spacing for orange is 4–6 m.

How tall does orange grow?

At maturity, orange reaches 4–10 m tall.

When does orange flower?

Flowering of orange occurs in September, October.

What stage and stratum does orange occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, orange belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🍯 Melliferous 🐝 Attracts pollinators

Propagation

Grafting, Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Abundância , p. 118 (gotsch_stage)
  3. www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br (root_system, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes, waterlogging_tolerance)
  4. hgic.clemson.edu (frost_tolerance_c, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max)
  5. www.scielo.br (flowering_months, cultivation_notes)

External references

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