Applying nutrition to almonds post-harvest replenishes exported nutrients, optimizes bud development and fruit set for the next season while maximizing yield potential.
Utilize the period between harvest and early leaf senescence. Apply foliar nutrition to recuperate the trees post-harvest and improve bud development and fruit set for the next season.
MAX SET® NURISH® (7-2-16) ensures rapid nutrient uptake and efficient absorption of polymer nitrogen, potassium phosphite, and chelated zinc for optimal bud development and root vigor. Add FOLI-GRO® BORON for a complete nutrition package.
MAX SET® NURISH® outperformed grower standard and the control by more than 14% in yield without affecting kernel size, with an ROI of more than 25 to 1 in eight years of replicated research.
The optimal rate is 7 gallons per acre. Data shows 5-7 gallons per acre delivers a high ROI vs the grower standard.
KEY NUTRIENTS for ALMOND POST-HARVEST MINERAL NUTRITION
Nitrogen: Critical for maintaining high yields in almond orchards and recent research suggests 20-25% of the annual Nitrogen budget of almond trees is utilized post-harvest.
Replenish nitrogen to support post-harvest growth for carbohydrate storage, vegetative growth, and fruit bud differentiation
Polymer nitrogen is easily taken up post-harvest when soil conditions do not lend themselves to fertigation due to droughts.
Phosphorous: Vital for Tissue Growth and Vigor
Supports continued tissue growth and root flush growth
Deficiency can delay flower formation and harvest in following season
Foliar spray replenishes phosphorus removed during harvest, ensuring well-differentiated fruit buds.
Potassium: Key for Structural and Metabolic Processes
Should be the First Nutrient that should come to mind post-harvest
Required at all stages of growth and traditional heavy banding can be complemented with foliar applications post-harvest.
Foliar potassium ensures the tree is ready for the dormant season, improving nutrient availability.
Zinc: Crucial for Spring Growth and Reproductive Success
Often deficient in Central Valley soils due to high pH.
Fall foliar applications supply zinc needs effectively since it is immobile in soil.
Supports bud differentiation, root growth, and plant recuperation.
The concept of using MAX SET NURISH is to provide essential nutrients critical for bud differentiation, root growth and plant recuperation in a form that is readily absorbed and translocated to the fruiting buds. In independent research trials a rate of 7 gal/acre of MAX SET NURISH has outperformed grower control (Urea + Zinc sulfate + Solubor, 10 lb +10 lb +2 lb/acre) with no difference in kernel size (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Effects of MAXSET NURISH application rates on Nonpareil almond (lb/acre) compared to untreated control and grower standard in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Columns with different letters are statistically different at p<0.1.
Increasing the rate of MAXSET NURISH from 0 gal/acre (untreated control) to 7 gal/acre provided a 28% of return on investment with superior yield (Figure 2) compared to only 9% to grower control (Figure 2.)
Figure 2. Post harvest mineral nutrition costs per acre and return on investment (%) compared to untreated control in the San Joaquin Valley of California
Author: S. Kaan Kurtural