ISHS Acta Horticulturae 373: I International Congress on Almond
SUSTAINING YIELDS IN ALMOND HEDGEROWS |
| Authors: | J.P. Edstrom, W.C. Micke |
| Abstract:
In 1979, a planting of almonds, Prunis dulcis, ctv. Nonpareil and Price, was established at 2.2m x 6.7m (667 trees/ha.). Four pruning treatments were imposed on the hedgerow at the end of the first year: 1) Temporary - trees trained to 3 scaffolds then standard pruned 2nd - 6th years. Alternate trees were whisked back during 7th and 8th years and then removed after year 9 leaving a 4.4m x 6.7m hedge. 2) Permanent Hedge -trees trained to 3 scaffolds and standard pruned each year. 3) Two Scaffold Hedge - heavy 2nd and 3rd year training to form 2 main scaffolds (perpendicular V) then standard pruned. 4) Unpruned Hedge -trees trained to 3 scaffolds, then no further pruning. Treatment 1 where alternate trees whisked back had 15% reduced yield both years following whisking. Removal of these heavily pruned alternate trees at the 9th year then reduced yields an additional 30%. Now, five years after removal, yield still lags by 20% yearly and 5000 Kg/ha accumulatively. Unpruned hedgerow continues to yield equal to standard pruned hedge and two scaffold hedge. | |
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