Fruit Trees: Income Generating Plant Materials for Windbreaks,

Vegetative Barriers, & Hedgerows Prepared by

L. Robert Barber, Roland Quitugua, & Ilene IriarteFor:

University of Guam, Cooperative Extension Service & Guam Department of Agriculture

Funding provided by: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Administration for Native Americans,, & Sanctuary Incorporated

Fruit Tree Windbreaks

• Primary function is wind protection – Tree spacing is much closer than normal

(orchard)

• Fruit yield will be reduced dramatically once the plants are mature, if irrigation and nutrients are not provided along with a pruning program

• May require thinning in about 5-10 years depending on species

Land Preparation

• If planting on new or overgrown land clear unwanted vegetation taking care not to remove the top soil– If using a bulldozer do not scrape the soil– Steeply sloping land should not be stripped

of plant cover due to susceptibility to erosion

• Do not operate any machinery on wet soil because it will cause compaction affecting plant growth and development

Planting & Care

• Minimum:– Dig a hole the same depth and twice as

wide as the root ball– You want the crown (point where root &

stem meet) level with the ground surface

• Keep soil and mulch away from the base of the plant to avoid rot

Planting & Care

• Break up any of the roots that are circling the root ball “pot bound roots”

• Inspect roots for “j”root make sure tap root is straight

• “Its better to plant a $1 plant in a $10 hole than it is to plant $10 plant in a $1 hole”

Mulch

• Mulch Your Plants– Weed barrier– Slow release nutrients– Conserves water– Protects your plants from bush cutters

• Bush cutters– Often damages desired plants – Physically harms plants – Bush cutter disease

(careless cuts girdle tree) kills huge numbers of trees on Guam.

Mulched Yoga surrounded by chicken wire

Common Causes of Plant Death

• Planted too deep• Mulched too deep• Over watering or under watered• Bush cutter damage• Mulch or soil up against plant base

(stem)

Species Height

• Short Species: 20 feet and under– Calamansi - Noni– Soursop - Lemon China– Surinam Cherry

• Medium Species: 20-50 feet– Avocado - Binalo– Saba/Palau banana– Dwarf coconut

• Large Species: 50 feet and over– Breadfruit - Tamarind– Mango

Spacing

Fruit Trees: Windbreak: Orchard:

Calamansi 5-8 feet 8-10 feet

Soursop 5-8 feet 8-14 feet

Surinam Cherry

8-10 feet 10-15 feet

Noni 6-10 feet 10-15 feet

Lemon China 6-10 feet 8-14 feet

Avocado 12-18 feet 20-40 feet

Saba Banana 8-14 feet 12-18 feet

Dwarf Coconut

10-12 feet 15-20 feet

Binalo 10-15 feet 10-15 feet

Breadfruit 12-16 feet 15 – 40 feet

Mango 10-16 feet 15-40 feet

Tamarind 8-15 feet 12-20 feet

Propagation

Fruit Trees: How to Propagate:

Calamansi Seed, Air Layering, Grafting

Soursop Seed

Surinam Cherry Seeds, Volunteer Seedlings, Air Laying

Noni Seed, Cuttings

Lemon China Seed, Air Layering, Grafting

Avocado Seed, Grafting,

Saba Banana Division, Tissue Culture

Dwarf Coconut Seed

Binalo Seed

Breadfruit Root shoot & Cuttings, Air Laying; Seed (Dokdok)

Mango Seed, Grafting

Tamarind Seeds, Cuttings, Air Laying, Grafting

Calamansi

• Can not tolerate water logged soils• Can be used as living fences• Good bee forage• Flowers & fruits most of the year if

irrigated• Peel can be used in animal feed

mixes

Lemon China

• Can not tolerate water logged soils• Can be used as living fences• Good bee forage• Flowers & fruits most of the year if

irrigated

Lemon China

Soursop

• Seeds are poisonous causing severe eye inflammation

• If soils are too dry the tree will drop all it’s leaves, mulching & irrigation are recommended

• Flowers and fruits more or less throughout the year

• Juice & pulp can be used in drinks or dried fruit

• Fruit & pulp may be used as animal fodder if seeds are removed

Avocado

• Does not tolerate water logging • Tolerates salt spray• Used as animal fodder• Avocados will not ripen while still attached to

tree• Full grown avocados will ripen 2 days to 1

week at room temperature• Season can be extended by selecting

different varieties

Saba/Palau Banana

• Tolerant to most diseases• For Nurseries

– Light well drained growing medium (pathogen free)

– Irrigate after planting• Not a tree, has a pseudostem

– Sap permanently stains clothes– Flower is a vegetable

Breadfruit

• Fruits can weigh 0.5 – 13 lbs.• Fruit yield is extremely variable & can

range from 100 -700 fruits per tree.– Average yield is 150 – 200 fruits per tree

• Does well interplanted with other species

• Surface roots can be easily damaged by mowers & other equipment (heavy mulching recommended)

Breadfruit

• Fruits are high in carbohydrates, vitamins, & minerals

• Seeds are high in protein, low in fat• Salt and drought tolerant• Can be potentially used as erosion

control

Dokdok (Seeded breadfruit)

• Do not produce root shoots & cannot be grown from root cuttings

• Seeds are viable for several weeks• Seeds cannot be stored, damaged by chilling, or

drying• Collect seeds from soft ripe fruits• Seed should be firm, shinny & does not give way

when squeezed• Seeds germinate within 10-14 days• Transplant to 1-2 gallon pots when true leaves

have hardened • Ready to transplant in the field in one year• Will bear fruit in 6 – 10 years

Tamarind

• Slow growing, long lived• Wind resistant• Withstands salt sprays• There are many food uses:

– Curries, sauces, seasonings, drinks, & roasted

• Pulp is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, & riboflavin

Tamarind

Surinam Cherry

• Can grow in most soil types• Can withstand waterlogged soils for

a time• Does not tolerate salt• Seedlings grow slowly

– May fruit from 2 -5 years, depends on conditions

• Fruits rapidly become larger & sweeter after a good watering

Surinam Cherry

Lada or Noni

• Noni flowers & fruits throughout the year

• Grows in a wide range of soils• Can tolerate drought and water logged

soils for long periods of time• Very salt tolerant• Regenerates rapidly• Fruit, leaves, stems, & roots are used

for medicinal purposes

Mango

• Tolerate a wide range of soil types• Considered to be drought tolerant

– During fruiting season will cause fruit drop & low yields

• Wind resistant & are used as windbreaks• Sap is slightly caustic & toxic & can

cause:– Rash, blisters, swelling of lips, throat, face,

& other parts of skin– Sap burn on fruits

Mango Seeds

• Monoembryonic:– Contains only one embryo– Cross between maternal & paternal

parents– Fruits vary

• Polyembryonic:– Contains many embryos– Normally identical to mother plant

Binalo (Pacific Rosewood)

• Grows naturally only in the Mariana Islands and throughout tropical areas of the Pacific

• It is commonly found on the beach strand, along river, mouths, and can be found on limestone terraces not far from the coast.

• Binalo produces attractive yellow flowers and fruits that mature from green to brown.

• Wood has been used for tool handles, and its bark for medicine, fence stalks, and its inner bark for cordage  

Binalo

Summary

• For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Service at 735-2080