Avocado tree - Persea americana

Description and Uses

Persea americana (Avocado tree) is a tropical tree from Colombia & Venezuela. It is mainly grown for its fruit crops (long shelflife), but also

can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 7 - 10 years. The first yield will be 20 kg/tree/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 100 kg/tree/year.

. Medical uses include;

The fruit contains ( - ). There is Avocado oil extracted by centrifugation from the tree`s fruit yielding 5 - 25% oil. The tree`s wood is called avocado wood and has a density of 400 - 520 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 3800 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 100 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Persea americana has a lifespan of 400 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 19 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than full sun. Persea americana has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations

(endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees. Persea americana is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Persea americana thrives in an altitude of 0 to 2500 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -4°C and optimally between 10 - 35°C. The optimal rainfall is 1550 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 300 - 2500 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and

diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 3 months. There are approximative 65 seeds/kg. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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