Want the Highest Consistent Yielding Almonds?
Maximizing profitability in your almond orchard starts with optimizing nut set every year. Achieving consistency in set and minimizing alternate bearing cycles is the key to consistent yields and greater profits. The secret is understanding and following the 5 Rs: applying the Right nutrients at the Right time in the Right forms in the Right mix and to the Right place in the plant.
Nut set can be influenced by boron, which enhances pollen tube development and fertilization. Calcium is synergistic with boron and increases its effect. Molybdenum plays a direct role in nut set and retention. Agro-K’s Vigor-Cal-Bor-Moly is the perfect mix to apply from pink bud to early bloom. Vigor-Cal-Bor-Moly supplies a balanced nutrient mix in a carbohydrate (Dextro-Lac) formulation that can significantly improve nut set and calcium levels. Agro-K’s Dextro-Lac formulation is soft on foliage and designed to rapidly penetrate plant tissue. Another benefit to Agro-K’s Dextro-Lac formulation is that the nutrients are sugar complexed and are not a chelate. Chelated nutrient formulations require energy from the tree to break the nutrients free from the chelation. In contrast, Dextro-Lac complexed formulations do not require energy from the tree to release the nutrient, and once penetrated into the tissues, are immediately available to the tree for assimilation.
Improving nut set is the first step to consistently high yielding almonds. Once set, nuts need size and weight to maximize yield. Nut size is dictated by cell division, an energy intensive process relying largely on phosphate as the energy source. In addition to energy inputs, calcium is required during cell division not only to signal the cells to divide, but also to create new cell walls. Available calcium levels prior to and during cell division directly impacts the number of cells created and is proportional to final nut weight.
More calcium uptake during leaf cell division creates larger leaves with thicker cell walls. Thicker cell walls reduce susceptibility to diseases like scab and rust while larger leaves increase photosynthetic production leading to larger, heavier nuts. Applying Vigor-SeaCal with Agro-K’s high orthophosphate/low potassium AgroBest 9-24-3 formulation just prior to and during the bloom period provides rapid penetration, uptake and translocation of calcium and phosphate to drive and support cell division. Vigor-SeaCal combines Agro-K’s powerful seaweed extract with calcium in a sugar-complexed formulation to synergistically boost nut cell division. Applying an energy-stimulating high phosphate NPK like AgroBest 9-24-3 works to increase seaweed efficacy and drive more cell division. AgroBest 9-24-3 is specifically designed with minimal potassium content for early season foliar applications. Foliar spray mixes with even moderate amounts of potassium applied during cell division will antagonize calcium uptake and negatively impacting leaf cell wall integrity, nut quality, and final nut weight.
The energy requirements to maximize cell division and nut fill are significant and requires large, healthy, and efficiently functioning leaves. Zinc is essential for maximum leaf development, vascular function and root growth. Magnesium is critical for chlorophyll. Manganese is required for proper root development and nitrogen utilization. Maximizing early season growth processes and tree function requires a spectrum of micronutrients and Agro-K’s Zinc +5 D.L. provides zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, and copper to maximize chlorophyll production and function, leaf surface area and root growth.