The demonstration plots of persimmon cultivation established in 2014 by the Huerta de Murcia County Agrarian Office to verify its adaptation to the agronomic conditions of the area, show the viability of this crop both in the ecological and traditional modality, according to the latest data obtained. During these years, fertilization, management and the use of techniques have been adapted to advance or delay harvesting.
The variety of persimmon planted was ‘Rojo Brillante’, the most cultivated in the Valencian Community, which is the largest producer of this species in Spain. The plantations were made on the Diospyros lotus pattern and the trees were formed in glass. One of the plots has traditional irrigation and the other with localized irrigation.
After several campaigns it was observed that the Diospyros lotus pattern showed certain problems of adaptation to the soils and waters of the area, due to its high sensitivity to the chlorine content in them, which produces burns on the leaves at the end of summer and lack of development in some individuals.
For this reason, the faults that were occurring in the plots with trees of the same variety but on the Diospyros virginiana pattern were replaced, which proved to be somewhat slower to enter production and to delay the harvesting of the fruit somewhat, but instead showed a high tolerance to chlorides and great vigor once it has passed its youthful stage. Some trees of other non-astringent varieties such as Fuyu, Jiro and Hana Fuyu were also planted.
From the second year the trees were transformed from the vase formation to the formation with the so-called Mataix pruning, which includes pruning in summer and winter. This system of formation has been shown to be superior to the formation in glass, with good productions and fruits of greater size and weight.
The plot in organic cultivation has shown a good development during these years, with productions and qualities comparable to that of conventional cultivation. Pests and diseases have been adequately controlled with the products authorized in this cultivation modality, being the fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) the one with the highest incidence in autumn, although this has varied greatly from one year to another. The small area of this species that still exists in the Region means that pests and diseases are not a problem, something that does occur in the main producing areas of Spain.
This initiative has been co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and the Environment, through measure 1 of the Development Program Rural Region of Murcia, managed by the Training and Technology Transfer Service.
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