ABSTRACT
Citrus fruits are among the most important and highly demanded fruits. Nutrition of citrus plants is key to higher yields with best quality produce. Due to the continuous use of inorganic fertilizers, different hazards to environment, agriculture, and humans are being forecasted. Therefore, the use of natural organic fertilization has gained much importance. The possible organic fertilizers would be animal and poultry manures, liquid manures, compost, vermicompost, biochar, and biofertilizers. In this chapter, the use of organic amendments to fulfill the nutrition requirements of citrus is discussed in the light of the most relevant published literature. Influence of different possible organic fertilizers on soil properties and nutrients availability, seedlings, yield, fruit quality, and diseases or insect pests is discussed. Results of different experiments are reviewed, and conclusions are demonstrated. Manures and composts are rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but the nutrients are available to plants only after mineralization. Therefore, the mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizers is recommended to fulfill the nutrients demand of plants. Biochar can also be used as sustainable amendment, but it contains lower amounts of nitrogen, but higher potassium, and mineral elements. It improves soil structure and carbon stocks. Certain organic fertilizers also reduce the diseases and insect/pest attack and improve the tolerance of plants against stress. Thus, a combination of organic with mineral fertilizers could lead to sustainable yield and quality response of citrus orchards.
