TOBA TEK SINGH: Experts have cautioned orchard growers about the deteriorating citrus yield in the years to come and stressed the need for proper orchard management practices, diseasefree nurseries, balanced fertiliser application, and effective weed management.

They expressed these views at a seminar titled `use of plant growth regulators to improve plant growth and productivity of citrus orchards` organised by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad`s (UAF) Institute of Horticultural Sciences in Pirmahal tehsil`s Chak 332 GB Jakhra, known for several citrus orchards, on Sunday. The seminar is part of the Higher Education Commission funded project `introduction of climate resilient citrus germplasm and establishment of hi-tech citrus orchard` in collabo-ration with the ChinaPakistan Horticulture Research and Demonstration Center and Huazhong Agricultural University, China.

UAF Horticulturist Dr Muhammad Azam called for balanced and regulated fertiliser use, proper irrigation and fertigation, timely pruning, and the removal of dried and diseased branches to maintain orchard health and improve fruit quality and yield. He said that sustaining citrus productivity in the face of erratic weather patterns and other climate-related stresses required a shift towards modern and climate-smart orchard management.

Progressive Farmer Abdul Aziz said that excessive or indiscriminate use of fertilisers not only increased the financial burden on growers but could also affect soil health and crop performance. Correspondent