Cultivation Requirements
Climate
Conditions
Avocado has special climatic requirements, with a warm climate and a relative humidity of 60-65%. It is particularly sensitive to water shortages and excessive soil moisture. During the dry months of the year (May - September) irrigation is required. Otherwise, the quality of the fruit produced is degraded and the tree is stressed.
Temperature is the most important climatic factor limiting avocado cultivation. As a subtropical species, it is particularly sensitive to low temperatures, but also to extreme high temperatures, with young trees being more sensitive than adults. During the flowering period, a daytime temperature of over 21°C and a nighttime temperature of over 15°C are required. Problems from low temperatures are observed, depending on the variety, at temperatures below -2°C. Some hybrids (derived from the Fuerte variety) are resistant to -4.5°C, but not for long periods. Specifically, West Indian varieties are damaged at -2.2°C, Guatemalan varieties are damaged at -4.5°C, and Mexican varieties are damaged at -6°C. Hot winds and temperatures above 37°C can also cause extensive fruit drop and stress on trees.
Soil Suitability Check
The selection of the appropriate location for the establishment of a new avocado plantation should be carried out with particular care in order to reduce the possibility of problems occurring in the future, which are very difficult to deal with and lead to an economically unviable crop. Important soil parameters for a successful crop are
- Slightly acidic soil pH: ideally 6.2-6.5, but generally it is best not to exceed 7.5, in combination with soil carbonates
- Low carbonate content (total CaCO3): Not to exceed 20% for seedling rootstocks of Mexican origin
-
Χαμηλή αλατότητα εδάφους: ιδανικά <1,2 dS/m.
Initial analysis of irrigation water is required to ensure that it does not have high salinity - Καλή στράγγιση (ποσοστά αργίλου <30%)
- No history of soil diseases (not necessarily just Phytophthora)
Irrigation
According to the Government Gazette, the limits of the necessary quantities for the rational use of water in avocado irrigation are set at 600 to 700 m3/acre/year. Water quantities above 800 mm per year are not recommended even in warm climates since they are essentially lost without increasing production. We should of course point out that the above irrigation quantities constitute an estimate, essentially a "compass", because the accuracy of the dose and frequency of irrigation are determined based on the meteorological data of each region, the type of soil (light, medium, heavy) as well as the age of the trees.
It is also worth mentioning that short irrigation intervals positively affect the size of avocado fruits, while shorter irrigation intervals and increased amounts of water increase the concentration of oils.
Fertilization
During the establishment of the crop and generally during the first 2-3 years, it is important to ensure that young seedlings have sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In general, it is advisable to apply a complex fertilizer with fertigation, or alternatively, the use of organic matter if possible to cover part of the needs. Indicatively, nitrogen needs during the first 3 years of cultivation are estimated at 0.04 / 0.08 / 0.16 units of nitrogen per tree.