Abstract
Super-high density (SHD) is the latest innovation in almond growing. This new cropping system needs to be studied in different climates, soils, latitudes and cultivars in order to promote more efficient and sustainable orchard management. This study shows the effects of two row orientations and different canopy positions on leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and biological, phenological and agronomical parameters of a SHD almond orchard. Total bud number and flower bud number were higher for N-S row orientation and more wood buds were detected in top layers. LAI was strongly influenced by layer, but not by row orientation. Row orientation did not affect blooming or ripening phenology. Fruit number per layer was higher for North–South (N-S) row orientation and in middle layers; fruit set showed the opposite trend to flower bud and fruit numbers, achieving higher values for East–West (E-W) row orientation. Hulled fruit yield was not affected by row orientation but by canopy height. N-S oriented rows showed a greater number of empty nuts than E-W, but no differences were found between layers. We concluded that in SHD almond orchards, row orientation is determinant for sustainable crop management.
Highlights
The almond tree (Prunus dulcis Mill. = Prunus amygdalus Batsch) produces a nut consumed all over the world: the area of almond trees harvested and production have increased constantly, reaching +196% in 56 years [1]
Significant differences in mean total buds (TBs) were found in layers B and C: the highest TB in layer B was recorded for eastern exposure (45.3), which was 25% higher than mean TBs on the south side (34.2)
A linear increase was observed from the south side of E-W orchards to the east side of N-S
Summary
= Prunus amygdalus Batsch) produces a nut consumed all over the world: the area of almond trees harvested and production have increased constantly, reaching +196% in 56 years [1]. In the last 50 years, production has changed in terms of quantity and producing countries. In the 20th century the major almond producing countries were. European countries, led by Italy and Spain [1]. After the 1980s there was an impressive fall in European production and an enormous rise in other countries, such as the United. Spain produced 320,000 tons in 2020 and expects to be the second largest world producer in 2025 with 625,700 tons, 143,000 tons of which from organic orchards. Continues to convert its almond orchards to other crops [4]. The worst moment for Italian almond production was 2013, when production was 255,916 tons less than in 1961, −77.9% in 52 years, and 32,171 tons less than in 2000,
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