Evaluating self-fertile varieties in block plantings for almond growers (AL22000)

What is it all about?

This project is evaluating self-fertile almond varieties in block plantings to demonstrate their benefits to growers and how this system could be incorporated into existing operations, together with varietal information, to provide the greatest return.

The demonstration trial will assist Australian almond growers to:

• Improve quality and yield delivered through reduced orchard variability.
• Optimise orchard management delivered through new knowledge on orchard efficiencies, including reducing the number of passes.
• Improve profitability by reducing reliance on honeybee hives for pollination and reducing capital costs for irrigation and fertigation systems.

The research team will establish an area of self-compatible varieties at Horizon 2 density at the Almond Centre of Excellence, Loxton, including Carina, Mira, Vela, Independence, Shasta and Pyrenees. The purpose is to benchmark self-fertile variety performance planted in contiguous rows against traditional planting of alternating rows with nonpareil and to assess a range of parameters and production traits including nut set, hive stocking rates, nutrient and water uptakes, and orchard uniformity. Two rootstocks will be compared for each variety, including industry standard Nemaguard and Garnem hybrid rootstocks, which have the greatest area planted by industry since 2015. 

Grower demonstrations and resources will extend new knowledge from this trial to industry.