In recent years, almond plantations have exploded and the cultivated area has increased considerably. The new productive varieties With the new intensive and super-intensive planting systems, they have given new life to this crop that was once considered unprofitable.
An important advantage that the Iberian Peninsula has, especially the central and southern area, is that it has the ideal climatic conditions for cultivationso many hectares of rainfed or practically abandoned cereals have been recovered thanks to the improved economy of many producers and rural areas.
A few years ago, the almond tree was considered a tree to plant in dry areas with very low rainfall, with water inputs of less than 200 mm, typical of certain areas in northern Almería and the region of Murcia.
However, new research and trials conducted on this culture, the commitment of a almond tree plantation frame in super intensive and all the new varieties that are coming to the market make this crop a very profitable and competitive option.
Already accustomed to the olive grove in super intensive, the commitment in this almond planting system It resulted in a notable increase in production and a considerable reduction in productive expenditure, where the manual or semi-mechanized harvesting of traditional systems was a fairly notable handicap.
However, currently it also gives magnificent results bet on the intensive frameworkwhere they are installed at 400 to 600 plants per hectare and 3 x 6 or 4 x 6 planting frames.
Contents
Almond plantation design
The new varieties used for intensive and super intensive crops They are prepared for a very rapid entry into production. If not so long ago we were talking about 4 to 5 years to enter production, today it is rare that a very productive variety does not generate at least 300 kg/ha in the 2nd year, exceeding 1000 kg/ha the 4th year.
Super intensive planting frame
If we talk about the super intensive almond tree, also known as almond tree in hedgeproductions are higher, with usual planting plots of 3-3.5 x 1-1.2 m and more than 2000 vines/ha.
For example, for a 3.5 x 1.2 m super-intensive almond planting frame, it accommodates 2,380 vines/ha.
The costs per hectare of establishmentwithout considering land costs, are as follows:
- Soil preparation: €600/ha
- Plant: €7,600/ha
- Cost of tutors: €360/ha
- Anti-animal guards (height 30 cm): €830/ha
- Installation labor: €1,200/ha
- Irrigation installation: €2,000/ha
- TOTAL: €12,590/ha
Once the culture has been established, we are talking about an average cost of 1,500-1,600 €/h the first 2 yearsand 2,800-3,000 €/ha once the almond tree is in production.
The estimated production of the super-intensive almond tree in full exploitation can exceed 3,000 to 3,500 kg/ha of seed, according to recent studies by IRTA.
Intensive planting frame
The intensive almond tree is a more optimized option of the traditional framework, where they typically penetrate between 220 and 270 feet. In this case, a minimum distance of 5 meters between streets is left for the passage of machinery, and the distance between trees is generally between 4 and 7 meters.
Thus, the intensive almond tree covers between 300 and 500 vines per hectare.
Currently, the most viable option in terms of productive performance and working capacity of agricultural machinery is a frame for planting 6 x 4 meters or 6 x 5 meters.
Estimated intensive production for full production exceeds 2000 kg/ha of seed on average.
planned production
For traditional settingwith about 270 feet, the approximate production running under irrigation and a full fertilization plan is as follows.
It must be taken into account that some varieties respond with a little alternation, since they define the structure of the tree and emit more vegetative than fruitful buds.
| VARIETY | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 4 |
| Laurane | 360kg/ha | 580kg/ha | 1000kg/ha | |
| SOLETA | 330kg/ha | 480kg/ha | 1050kg/ha | |
| GUARA | 330kg/ha | 550kg/ha | 1100kg/ha | |
| VAYRO | 400 kg/ha | 550kg/ha | 1260kg/ha | |
| MARTHA | 290kg/ha | 820kg/ha | 1600kg/ha | |
| BELONA | 290kg/ha | 360kg/ha | 1050kg/ha | |
| TARRACE | 260kg/ha | 100 kg/ha | 640kg/ha | |
| CONSTANT | 300 kg/ha | 220kg/ha | 960kg/ha |
soil preparation
Installing any tree crop with takes a preliminary preparation of the ground. This work consists of removing any rock that interferes with tillage activity, reducing slopes, channeling water, eliminating weeds and improving soil fertility.
The best conditions for the almond tree are those of a fertile, spongy, well-drained soilwhich allows the entry of oxygen and the roots can grow without mechanical obstacles.
On the other hand, a fair amount of organic matter is usually added, aiming for an average level of 2.0%. However, in certain types of very poor soils, the supply of organic matter up to a value of 1.5% is considered more than sufficient.
In such a case, we would speak of the contribution of between 20 and 40 t/ha of organic mattera, be able to use plant compost or decomposed manure from different animals.
As we commented before, the preparation of the land entails a cost of around 600 €/ha.
Subscriber’s Guide to Almonds
The fertilization of this crop depends on many variables, such as the framework of the almond tree (number of trees per hectare), the type of soil and the estimated production.
The Irrigation water quality It also conditions the amount of fertilizer to be used, since very saline waters with high conductivity make it difficult to introduce the amount of fertilizer that the crop may need in times of high demand.
Some variables to consider when planning almond tree fertilization are:
Fertilization of almond trees in fertigation
The most optimized way to introduce fertilizers is to fertigation equipment, already dissolved in irrigation water. This way it is much better controlled when the almond tree roots go to absorb nutrients.
Generally, the harvest extractions are as follows:
- Nitrogen consumption per ton of nugget: 65 kg
- Phosphorus consumption per ton of nugget: 12 kg
- Potassium consumption per ton of nugget: 55 kg
For an average production of 2000 kg/ha of seed, a almond tree fertilizer plan It can be the following, although the integrated production regulations must be studied for each crop and Autonomous Community.
| Month | NOT | P | K | THAT | mg |
| March | twenty | 4 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| April | 27 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| May | 27 | 6 | 12 | ten | 5 |
| June | twenty | ten | 18 | ten | 5 |
| July | seven | 8 | twenty | 6 | 6 |
| August | 5.5 | 4 | fifteen | 4 | 6 |
| September | fifteen | 8 | 13.3 | 4 | of them |
| October | Eleven | 6 | ten | 4 | of them |
| TOTAL | 132.5 | 52 | 102.3 | 54 | 3.4 |
If we analyze the INTEGRATED TECHNICAL STANDARD of different Autonomous Communities, we see that for irrigation, in almond trees 100 kg/ha nitrogen cannot be exceeded supplied, so we have to assume that the rest of the nitrogen requirements are supplied with organic matter.
Almond tree fertilizer in dry land
The arid land almond tree is much easier to paysince solid fertilizers (mixed or complex) are used or in the case of organic farming, granules or direct compost or manure.
However, although it is easier to apply and is done less frequently (usually twice a year), the control that we can carry out in the nutrition of the almond tree is considerably reduced.
For Rainfed almond tree in full production, between 3 and 5 kg/tree of the following fertilizer ratio can be provided. It is always advisable to know what one starts with a soil analysis.
- NPK 20-10-5 + pickups
- NPK 20-8-8 + pickups
- NPK 12-12-17 + pickups
It is usually applied before Rains from February to Marchor, for its release to begin to activate the sprouting and flowering of the tree. If only one request needs to be made, you can provide 4-5kg/tree. On the other hand, if 2 applications are to be made, the doses will be distributed evenly, starting with a “starter” rich in nitrogen and, at the 2nd application, a formula with a high potassium content.