Field trials in Chile, Spain and Argentina show that comprehensive technical management turns a crop seen as “hardy” into an early-bearing, high-yielding one.
Field trials carried out by Easy Nut Tecnología in Chile, Spain and Argentina have brought pistachio orchards into production in year 3 and to full production by year 7, three years earlier than usual, while also eliminating alternate bearing. Working across both hemispheres made it possible to speed up these advances.
Because of its reputation as a hardy crop, pistachio has historically been planted on sites with significant soil, water and climate limitations, under very limited management. This has held back technological progress in the crop.
The improvements rest on five pillars:
- Finished bare-root plants, with moderate increases in planting density.
- A larger wetted soil profile and continuous soil moisture monitoring.
- Nutrition with levels close to nitrogen 3, potassium 1.5 and phosphorus 0.20.
- Biostimulation of soil life.
- A tall, narrow hedgerow that improves light interception.
According to the Easy Nut Tecnología Technical Team, these changes have delivered early bearing and high yields, and have considerably improved the economic performance of the projects.
