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Oranges are better for your eyesight than carrots. It is a well-known
fact that carrots are good for your eyesight but oranges have a higher
concentration of vitamin A and beta-carotene than carrots. - An orange
a day provdes 80% of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Apart from Sao
Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, other states which grow oranges are Sergipe,
Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.
Orange trees are ideally planted 4 metres apart, taking up to 20 sq. mt
per tree, preferably on undulating land with good irrigation. Ideal growing
temperatures are between 25-35 degrees C (day) and 10-15 degrees C (night).
The most popular variety grown in Brazil is the pera which accounts
for over 50% of the total orange crop (in some states as much as 80%)
The tree is of medium size with productivity of around 250kg fruit/plant,
a density of 550 per hectare and ripens between July and November. The
second most popular variety is the nata (Natal) - 20% of the total
crop - a large tree with about the same density per acre. This ripens
between August and December with productivity of 250kg fruit/plant. The
valencia, a medium-sized tree, is next with about 15% of the crop and
a lower density of 400 per acre and 200kg productivity. This also ripens
August to December. The hamlin variety, which is also popular for
eating, is gaining in popularity and ripens earlier in the year and produces
300kg fruit/plant. The once-popular bahia variety, which has been
renamed the Washington Navel in the United States, has lost its popularity
in Brazil due to its rather bitter taste. The variety most suited to the
soil in the Rio de Janeiro area is the Seleta and Rio-Oranges
will be planting this variety in most of its citrus groves.
In Brazil, historic average productivity was around 3 boxes per tree per annum but much higher levels are now being achieved following improved techniques and the ntroduction of new varieties; 5-8 boxes per tree per annumn is no longer uncommon. Fruit juice processing companies purchase 80% of the crop to manufacture SLCC (Suco de Laranja Concentrado e Congelado) - Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) - most of it for export It is estimated that oranges are twice as profitable to produce per acre than soya and 5 times as profitable as livestock.
During its period of growth a typical orange tree will absorb from the soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous in the ratios of 25%, 34% and 14%. It takes a tree 3 years to reach maturity; disinfecting, fertilizing and maintenance must be carried out throughout this time to ensure optimal productivity.
www.abecitrus.com.br
www.brazilmax.com/news.cfm/tborigem/fe_business/id/7
www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/americas/brazil
www.deliciousrecipes.com
www.tonytantillo.com/fruits/oranges.html
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/orange.html
www.ateb.nl
www.bladzijde.be
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