The Almond Board of California (ABC) constantly explores ways that it can help growers become more productive, efficient and sustainable1, while at the same time meeting regulatory requirements. The California Almond Sustainability Program (CASP) is a good example of how ABC brings all these elements together.
The eight individual sustainability modules are both instructive and add to the body of evidence that California’s Almond growers use sustainable practices. But the program also includes online tools that streamline calculations and reporting requirements for growers.
Nitrogen Calculator
The first tool to become available was the nitrogen calculator. This tool uses models developed by UC Davis plant scientist Dr. Patrick Brown and colleagues to predict how much nitrogen to apply and when to apply it to meet yield-based demand. To use this tool, growers enter their yield estimates pre- and post bloom, and then add early-season tissue-sampling results. “The model is reactive, and you can revise your yield estimate as many times as you see fit between post-bloom and final harvest,” said Franklin Dlott, product manager for SureHarvest, which developed CASP for the ABC and maintains the website SustainableAlmondGrowing.org, where the modules and tools are housed.
As a bonus, using the nitrogen calculator can also satisfy all of the Nitrogen Management Plan reporting requirements of the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). “The model that Patrick Brown came up with includes all of the elements that are required for reporting under the ILRP,” continued Dlott. “It has estimated yield, fertilizer plan, actual yield and fertilizer applied in irrigation water, so by hitting one button, growers can produce the Nitrogen Management Plan report required by coalitions.”
Mapping Tool
The mapping tool allows users to draw boundaries of their fields and enter APNs (assessor’s parcel numbers), and then drop pins to plot the locations of active or abandoned wells or observation wells, as well as discharge points and any other feature the grower wishes to record. “When you have that map together with borders or APNs, you can create a map report that is required as Part D of the ILRP farm evaluation plan, and is also required to have on file for your Nitrogen Management Plan,” Dlott explained, adding that the two tools are integrated so the information does not have to be entered twice.
For growers who have fields in multiple coalitions, which may have different reporting requirements, both the mapping tool and the nitrogen calculator allow you to enter the name of the coalition and create separate reports for each coalition, according to Dlott.
Irrigation Calculator
Still in beta testing but destined to be a popular tool for those who haven’t invested in complex irrigation monitoring and reporting systems is the irrigation calculator. This calculator also uses the latest UC research, and recommends the amount and timing of water to be applied to almond orchards based on evapotranspiration (ET). “This system is integrated with active CIMIS [California Irrigation Management Information System] stations as well as spatial CIMIS, which is a CIMIS project that integrates stations in your area with an overhead satellite image to calculate ETo,” Dlott said. “Enter your latitude and longitude to get your ETo, based on an integration of the stations around you plus some satellite data.” Using active CIMIS stations, spatial CIMIS and historical climatic zones, the calculator can show both past and forecasted water demand for a whole season, he noted. The tool updates CIMIS data automatically.
An online irrigation calculator, coming soon, uses the latest UC research and recommends the amount and timing of water to be applied to almond orchards based on evapotranspiration (ET).
To utilize the calculator, growers will enter information about their orchard, such as row and tree spacing, soil texture, root depth, etc., as well as some basic information about the irrigation setup for each field or block. “Hit ‘Go,’ and the calculator will update the weather information and calculate the run time for that system, as defined, that it would take to replace the water lost as calculated by ETc for that week,” Dlott asserted.
The irrigation calculator is being further aligned with the Irrigation Continuum, which is one of Almond Board of California’s Accelerated Innovation Management (AIM) initiatives. Using the irrigation calculator and taking advantage of the educational content in the form of pop-ups and hover text with how-to links to the Irrigation Continuum will qualify growers at the 1.0 or higher level 2.0 or 3.0 in the Irrigation Continuum.
Confidential Information
All data entered in these tools by the grower is strictly confidential. Education and outreach may reference anonymous collective data, according to Dlott. By saving the data every time new information is entered, users can access the cloning tool. By cloning the data entered for a field or orchard for any of these tools, growers save themselves the trouble of re-entering data for a different field that may have only slight variations. It is also convenient for updating information as changes are made from report to report or year to year.
To use these tools, go online to SustainableAlmondGrowing.org and request a username and password (if you don’t already have one). Sustainability modules are also at this website; while you’re at the website, take the time to explore the almond sustainability program if you haven’t tried it before, or to fill out a new module or reassess one if it has been a while since you updated your information.
1. Sustainable almond farming utilizes production practices that are economically viable and are based upon scientific research, common sense and a respect for the environment, neighbors and employees. The result is a plentiful, nutritious and safe food product.
