Avocado Cultivation Guide

1. BOTANY & VARIETIES

  • Species Overview
    • Scientific Name: Persea americana
    • Family: Lauraceae
    • Type: Evergreen fruit tree
    • Growth Habit: 10–15 m, deep-rooted, dense canopy
    • Bearing Age: Grafted (2–3 years), Seedling (5–7 years)
  • Avocado Groups
    • West Indian type: Best for lowland tropics (Philippines)
    • Guatemalan type: Cool, high elevation
    • Mexican type: Cooler climates, aromatic skin
  • Recommended Commercial Varieties (Philippines)
    • Lowland Varieties:
      • BRS Margarida, Marañon, Local West Indian Selections
    • Mid–High Elevation:
      • Hass, Lamb Hass, Reed, Fuerte
  • Pollination & Flower Types
    • Avocado flowers are protogynous dichogamous (A & B type).
    • Best to plant both A and B flowering types to maximize yield.

2. CLIMATE & SOIL REQUIREMENTS

  • Climate
    • Altitude: 0–1500 m depending on variety
    • Rainfall: 1200–2000 mm/year
    • Temperature: Ideal 18–30°C, sensitive above 35°C
    • Wind: Avoid typhoon-prone open areas; windbreaks recommended
  • Soil
    • Soil Type: Well-drained loam; avoid heavy clay
    • pH: 5.5–6.5
    • Drainage: Excellent drainage is critical—root rot occurs in stagnant water
    • Depth: Minimum 1 m effective depth

3. PROPAGATION & PLANTING MATERIALS

  • Propagation Methods
    • Grafted Seedlings (preferred)
      • Advantages: Early bearing, uniform, predictable quality
    • Clonal Rootstocks
      • For disease resistance (e.g., Phytophthora tolerance)
    • Nursery Requirements
      • 50–70% shade for early stages
      • Sterile, well-drained potting media
      • Hardening: 2–3 weeks before field planting
  • Planting Material Specifications
    • Age: 6–12 months
    • Height: 60–100 cm
    • Stem: Pencil-size or thicker
    • Leaves: Healthy, deep green
    • Roots: Free of circling roots

4. FIELD ESTABLISHMENT

  • Site Preparation
    • Land clearing (manual preferred)
    • Contour layout for sloping areas
    • Dig holes 60 × 60 × 60 cm
    • Mix topsoil with:
      • 5–10 kg compost
      • 200–300 g complete organic fertilizer
      • 1–2 kg biochar (optional)
  • Spacing
    • Commercial orchards: 8 m × 8 m (156 trees/ha)
    • Intensive model: 6 m × 6 m (278 trees/ha with pruning)
    • Agroforestry model:
      • With Agarwood: 7 m × 7 m (avocado) + agarwood on the border or alternate rows
      • With Timber: 9 m × 9 m
  • Planting Procedure
    • Plant at onset of rains.
  1. Remove plastic bag carefully.
  2. Plant slightly higher than soil level (avoid trunk burial).
  3. Stake the seedling.
  4. Mulch: 0.5–1 m radius.

5. CARE & MANAGEMENT

  • 5.1 Fertilization Guide
  • Year 1–2 (Establishment Phase)
    • Every 4 months:
      • Organic: 3–5 kg compost/tree
      • Mineral: NPK 14-14-14 or 16-16-16 (200–300 g/tree)
  • Year 3–4
    • 5–8 kg compost/tree
    • 400–600 g/tree balanced fertilizer
    • Additional calcium & boron for fruit set
  • Year 5 onwards (Fruit-bearing)
    • Split application: Pre-bloom, fruit set, fruit enlargement
    • Suggested annual rate per tree:
      • N: 500–700 g
      • P: 250–400 g
      • K: 600–800 g
    • Organic matter: 10–20 kg/tree/year

Biostimulants: Mycorrhizae + Trichoderma recommended.

  • 5.2 Irrigation
    • Young trees: Weekly (dry season)
    • Bearing trees: Critical stages—flowering & fruit enlargement
    • Drip irrigation is ideal.
  • 5.3 Training & Pruning

Training (Years 1–3)

  • Maintain open-center or modified central leader
  • Height control: Cut back at 1–1.2 m

Annual Pruning

  • Remove water shoots
  • Thin dense interior branches
  • Maintain height at 3–4 m (for easy harvest)

6. PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Major Pests

  • Fruit Fly
  • Scale Insects
  • Mealybugs
  • Leaf Miner

Control

  • Sanitation, pruning
  • Yellow sticky traps
  • Neem oil or organic insecticide
  • Biological agents (parasitoids)

Major Diseases

  • Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi)
  • Anthracnose
  • Stem Canker
  • Sooty Mold

Control

  • Good drainage ALWAYS
  • Copper sprays (organic option: Bordeaux mixture)
  • Avoid trunk injury
  • Apply Trichoderma at base

7. FLOWERING, FRUITING & HARVEST

  • 7.1 Flowering
    • Flower type: A or B
    • Water stress (dry spell) followed by rain initiates flowering
    • Good sunlight is critical
  • 7.2 Fruit Development
    • Duration: 6–9 months from flowering
    • Thin fruit if clusters are heavy
  • 7.3 Maturity Indicators
    • Skin darkening (for some varieties)
    • Fruit reaches standard size and weight
    • Dry matter content ≥ 21% (export standard)
  • 7.4 Harvesting
    • Cut with clippers leaving a short stem
    • Handle gently; avoid dropping
    • Store at 7–12°C for extended shelf life

8. YIELD ESTIMATES

Grafted Trees

  • Year 3: 10–25 kg/tree
  • Year 5: 50–80 kg/tree
  • Mature tree: 120–200 kg/tree

Per Hectare Yield

  • 8m × 8m: 18–25 tons/ha