Vegetative soil cover between citrus tree rows in sand soils originated from Caiuá sandstone geological formation in the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil is a management practice required to protect soil from erosion. A field experiment was set up in 1993 in a citrus orchard with pear orange on rangpur lime rootstock located at Alto Paraná. Six types of soil management were evaluated in the 1995/1996 season and the following was determined: fruit yields (total weight and number), leaf samples, and soil samples were taken from 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil depth in the zone of fertilizer application and at the center between tree rows. The results showed that citrus yields were positively correlated with soil Ca, Mg, pH, and base saturation, and negatively correlated with soil Al and total acidity (H + Al), in center between tree rows. Leaf Ca was positively related with citrus yields. The critical leaf Ca concentration was 29.72 g kg-1.
Citrus sinensis; foliar diagnosis; soil acidity; calcium