Invest in Next Year’s Crop with Post-Harvest Irrigation

As growers are well aware, the almond harvest season is the busiest time of year. Prepping the orchard floor, timing tree shake in relation to hull split and achieving optimum moisture content during drying are just a few of the many factors growers will consider from August to October.

 

It’s also during this busy harvesting season that the foundation for next year’s crop is laid in the form of fruiting-bud differentiation. This period – from July to October in normal years – is when floral buds develop and next year’s crop yield potential is set. The principle is simple: more flowers mean more nuts. 

 

Many factors can affect crop yield, such as pollination efficiency, weather patterns and nutrient management decisions. With all of that being said, one of the biggest factors for maximizing potential yield of next year’s crop is post-harvest management of water.

 

Think of your post-harvest and late season irrigation as “paying it forward” for next year’s crop. During this critical time, tree water need is significant and severe water stress can drastically reduce bloom, fruit set and yield. Bud development is a gradual process, with beginning and endpoints, depending on individual buds. For example, in Nonpareil and Carmel varieties, the initiation of flowers spans the period of July through mid-August, and bud differentiation is completed with pistil development, which occurs from August to mid-September. 

 

An informative source to help growers better understand irrigation management – both post-harvest and year-round – is the Almond Irrigation Improvement Continuum. This resource, developed by Almond Board of California (ABC) in partnership with many trusted and respected technical experts, provides a step-by-step explanation of irrigation management and scheduling practices related to the following concepts:

The Irrigation Improvement Continuum provides a wide-ranging look at a grower’s site-specific irrigation system with the goal of improved efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Spencer Cooper, senior manager, Irrigation and Water Efficiency, is available to help almond growers reach their goals of increased water efficiency. Spencer meets growers in person for in-orchard consultations to discuss irrigation systems, address challenges and share ABC’s print and online irrigation tools. To schedule your own irrigation consultation, email Spencer at scooper@almondboard.com or call (209) 343-3211.