Search headlines:

• an introduction
• research importance
• research aims
• avocado
• Avocado benefits
• avocado production
• The right conditions for avocado cultivation
• Why is the avocado one of the fruits of economic benefit?
• The economic future of avocado cultivation
• Conclusion
• the reviewer

an introduction

Avocados have become one of the financially important tropical fruits in the global market. The production and consumption of avocados has expanded greatly in the past 150 years, due to two main factors;First: the increase in consumption among the population that has known the fruit since the past (for example: residents of Mexico and California) and second: the increasing expansion of new markets around the world in countries where the consumption of avocado was not common before (for example: Europe, Japan and China),Given the increase in the number of countries, especially in the Mediterranean region, in avocado production, it is very likely that the total production and consumption of avocados will continue to increase globally, and avocados are mainly consumed fresh, and most market and economic studies in the world indicate that The worldwide avocado market was valued at approximately $13.64 billion in 2018.It is expected to reach $21.5 billion by 2026, highlighting the financial importance of the crop. (1)
According to the FAO, global production of avocados exceeded 6.4 million tons in 2018, registering an increase of 6.7% over the previous year, while the total increase in production from 2000 to 2018 was about 136% (FAO Report, 2018). (2)

research importance

The importance of this research lies in discussing one of the most important economic influences of the agricultural market in the world, which is avocado cultivation, which has become the leader in the field of agriculture for many countries by reaping enormous and important economic fruits.

research aims

This research aims to:

• Shedding light on avocado cultivation in terms of discussing the most important environmental and climatic factors and conditions that contribute to its growth.
• Review the most important statistics and figures that explain the economic importance of avocados, and shed light on the economic future of avocados.

avocado

Avocados, a fruit not a vegetable, are believed to have originated in Mexico and Central and South America, where avocado trees were first planted in Florida in 1833 and then in California in 1856, and according to NASS, California now accounts for the majority of avocado production in the United States, followed by Florida and Hawaii .Avocado is a fruit in the family Lauraceae and is one of the most important commercial fruit products in many countries, both domestically and exported to markets. Ice cream and milkshakes are high in protein, several minerals (zinc and selenium) and vitamins (A, C and E), and avocado oil is fairly easy to digest as it is unsaturated and has a low sugar content. (3)

Avocado benefits:

1. Eating one avocado regularly will reduce the cholesterol level.
2. Avocado helps lower high blood pressure and is good for the heart.
3. Avocado contains fiber, so it reduces weight and is also useful for hemorrhoids.
4. Avocados contain antioxidants that help improve eyesight.
5. Avocado can also prevent deadly cancer, is good for the liver and prevents the stomach. (4)

avocado production

Avocados are currently produced in about 70 countries, with Mexico being the largest producer with a production exceeding 2.1 million tons in 2018, the second largest producer is Saint Dominic with about 644,000 tons, followed by Peru, Indonesia, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya, Venezuela, Chile, the United States, New Zealand and others,South Africa produces about 127,000 tons with increased production policies and highly regulated export trade. In the Mediterranean region, the occupied Palestinian territory leads the production of about 131,000 tons, followed by Spain (90,000 tons), Morocco (51,000 tons), Turkey (3,100 tons), France (2500 tons), Greece(1,700 tons), Cyprus (714 tons), and Tunisia (333 tons), all of these countries are experiencing upward trends in production due to higher demand mainly from the European Union. (5)

Conditions suitable for growing avocados:

Choosing good varieties is one of the most important tasks that a farmer should keep in mind while starting avocado cultivation. An avocado tree can be purchased directly from the market and online but it is recommended to buy avocados from different companies approved by the government. (6)

growth method

Avocados can be grown sexually by seed and asexually by grafting and air layering.
Growing an avocado tree from seed takes time, it takes up to 5 years to start fruiting. On the other hand, if the avocado is grown by grafting or air layering, the avocado tree grows faster and harvesting its fruits can start in a few years. (5,6)

suitable soil

We can grow avocados in almost all types of soil. Soil rich in clay is good for avocado cultivation, provided there is a good drainage system. The soil must be tested before planting the avocado tree and maintain the average pH at a rate of (5-7). (7,6)

Rainfall

Avocado grows well in that region where the annual rainfall is about 1000 cm, and the rainfall is good for avocado cultivation. (7)

Climate and temperature

Avocados are mostly grown in tropical and subtropical climates where there is moderate humidity, and the best temperature parameters for avocado tree growth are (20-30) degrees Celsius and humidity should be around (50-60%).

Avocados can be grown at low temperatures as well, as they can grow in an environment of about 5 degrees Celsius, but below this temperature undesirable effects appear on flowers and fruits and a good harvest cannot be obtained.
Also, avocados cannot be grown at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and above, and dry air negatively affects the avocado tree, and avocados can be grown at an altitude of 2500 meters from sea level. (8)

Soil suitable for growing avocados

Avocados can be grown in several types of soil, but their cultivation is very sensitive in soils where water accumulates due to poor drainage. Avocados cannot withstand water accumulation, nor can they be grown in salt water. The optimum pH range is from 5 to 7 depending on the Ethnicity and Varieties Avocados can thrive and do well in climatic conditions that range from the true tropics to the warmer parts of the temperate zone. (9)

land preparation

Avocado trees bear fruit best in cool temperatures (60 F to 85 F) with moderate humidity, as they can withstand temperatures once set, from about 28 F to 32 F with minimal damage, freezing temperatures should be avoided, and it’s best to start planted in March through June,Because planting during the summer leads to the risk of sun damage, because avocado trees do not absorb water well when they are young, and it is preferable to choose land in a non-grass area and away from the sidewalks, and try to plant it in a place protected from wind and frost. (10)
To start planting you should dig a hole a specific depth for the current root growth and just the right width, plus a little extra width so you can get your hands into the hole to plant it, the avocado is a shallow rooted tree and most of its nutritious roots are located in the top 6 inches of soil, so give it aeration good,The root structure of avocado seeds is also very delicate, and great care must be taken when planting them. If the tree is root bound, loosen the soil around the edges and cut the roots that go in circles (11)

soil preparation

Avocado trees prefer a soil pH of 6 to 6.5, and if the soil is heavy clay, the tree should be raised to an appropriate height so that the excess irrigation water can drain, and the height can be made from 1 to 2 feet and 3 to 5 feet around it, and no gravel or any other Something else is like planting media in the hole, where the sooner the roots can reach the loose soil, the better the tree will perform. (12)

Service Operations

Trees usually need to be watered two to three times a week, and when the roots reach the loose soil, more water can be used and the number of watering can be reduced to about once a week after a year. As with most plants, dry out a bit before watering again, and you should avoid drying out the tree too much. (12,13)
The general rule for mature trees is about 20 gallons of water per day during the watering season, seedlings will require less water of course, and it is preferable to check the soil before watering each time to make sure it is somewhat dry, but if the soil around the roots bears the impression of a hand when pressed On it, this means that it contains a sufficient amount of water.(13)

Disinfection and fertilization services

Sawdust is a suitable disinfectant. Redwood bark or cocoa bean husks and shredded tree bark disinfect the soil. Choose something woody about 2 inches in diameter such as coarse yard mulch available at some garden supply centers and through tree pruning operations. A material that has been pruned from the tops of trees and does not contain any diseased roots. Use 20 pounds of gypsum spread around the base of the tree. Mulch the area with 6 inches of mulch, keeping the material 6 to 8 inches from the tree trunk.Special young avocado trees are fertilized with 1 pound of actual nitrogen per tree per year, which can be spread over several applications as long as it reaches half a kilogram of nitrogen, an important nutrient for avocado trees is zinc as it helps in their growth (14)

Avocado varieties that are grown

There are different strains of avocado, which are adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions, such as the strains of western India, Guatemala and Mexico, in less tropical regions, as follows:

1. Mexicana: small (250 g) type of fruit that ripens after 6 to 8 months of flowering, the fruits have a smooth and thin peel with a large seed that fits loosely in the central cavity, the oil content is up to 30 percent in the fruit. (10)
2. Guatemalan strain: The fruits are rather large, weighing up to 600 grams and borne on long stems. The fruits ripen after 9-12 months from the flowers. The fruit rind is thick and often warty, which is tightly held in the hollow of the fruit. The oil content of the fruit varies Between 8 and 15 per cent.
3. West Indies: Medium-sized fruit with a smooth, leathery, glossy skin, bearing fruits on long stems and requiring up to 9 months to ripen from flowering date, seeds large, not tight in socket, oil content in the fruit is low (3-10 percent), This sweat is suitable for warm tropical climates.(11)

Reproduction and vaccination technique

Avocado nursery trees are generally produced in government institutes of Turkey, young trees are grown in PE bags and Mexican sorghum seeds are used as rootstock, and the breeding period of nursery tree is shortened from 24-30 months to 12-18 months by applying a newly developed method.

In short-term propagation, the seeds are sown in greenhouses after pretreatment, and then when the rootstock reaches the thickness of the grafting in 5-6 months, slotted grafting is carried out, the grafted plants are moved to a semi-shady place within a month to 1.5 months after Vaccination and all practices are carried out

Cultural and management procedures in this place, where the nursery trees grow vigorously in a short time and can be ready for planting in the fall of the same year (12)
In the conditions of Turkey, March – April is preferred as the planting season for nursery trees. Spaces of 6 x 6 m or 7 x 7 m are recommended in orchard farms. After planting, the trees are covered with different materials to protect them from sunlight, wind and cold damage. Farmers also use organic fertilizers as well as chemical fertilizers. It is recommended to fertilize according to the results based on the analysis of the leaves. Orchards are irrigated during the summer months when there is no rain in this season. Other cultural practices such as plowing, pruning, disease and pest control are also implemented. (13)

Avocado cultivation in Turkey

Avocados are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Their oil content consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They also provide a large proportion of the daily nutritional requirements and make an important contribution to a balanced diet.

89% of avocados in Turkey are grown in Antalya, where the area for avocado production has now reached 500 hectares. Avocados are produced in semi-tropical and medium climates where water consumption is generally high and where trees of this species cannot usually be grown on a commercial scale without supplemental irrigation Freshwater resources are increasingly overexploited in many parts of the world, with direct negative consequences for food production and humankind. (14)

Why is avocado considered an economic fruit?

Avocado is a fruit with a core, which is a creamy texture that grows in tropical climates. Unlike other fruits that consist mostly of carbohydrates, avocados have an unusual texture due to their high content of healthy fats. It has a lot of nutritional benefits, as it contains fat-soluble vitamins less common in other fruits, and contains high levels of vitamins B5 and and K and E, protein and unsaturated fatty acids. On average, one avocado contains twice as much potassium as a banana. From guacamole to avocado toast, avocado salad, avocado ice cream or avocado oil, the avocado also has interesting properties and benefits that have been recognized and used in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Cosmetics, that is, it is a mass-produced commodity that brings many benefits. (15)

The economic future of avocado cultivation

The global avocado market is expected to grow by USD 4.37 billion during 2022-2024, at a compound annual growth rate of 6% during the forecast period. Global reports on the global avocado market provide a comprehensive analysis as well as market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as the report provides up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, total market environment, and driven market In addition, the adoption of new technologies is expected to boost the growth of the global avocado market as well. (15.14)

Conclusion

Avocado production is increasing in terms of area and volume all over the world due to the increasing demand from consumers around the world, as the demand for trees exceeds the capacity of the nurseries to produce trees, and Mexico is the largest producer so far, but there are more countries participating in global trade China is a large consumer of fruit and is now among the top 10 growers, meaning that when the crop becomes better known it will become one of the most widely traded and cultivated varieties.

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