Articles
Evaluation of rootstock cultivars for almond in California
Article number
1406_32
Pages
209 – 216
Language
English
Abstract
Six rootstocks with ‘Nonpareil’ scions were planted in March 2010 to assess vigor and tree performance. ‘Rootpac-R’, ‘Atlas’, ‘Krymsk 86’, ‘Nickels’, ‘Empyrean 1’, and ‘Lovell’ rootstocks were compared on Farwell Loam, a relatively heavy soil series bordering Stockton Clay Adobe near Durham, California.
Annual rainfall averages 737 mm plus sprinkler irrigation during the growing season.
Tree spacing is 7.3 m across middles by 4.9 m down the tree row for a total a tree population of 279 trees per ha.
Tree growth was documented with trunk circumference measurements.
Nut size and yield data was collected annually through the tenth growing season.
Tree nutrition was characterized with leaf analysis in the seventh, ninth, and tenth years.
Nut maturity was measured by recording the timing and progression of hull split in the ninth and tenth growing seasons.
Concurrently the pre-harvest stress was determined using stem water potential (SWP) measurements.
Nematode populations were insignificant at this orchard site.
Data was processed using analysis of variance and Fishers protected LSD procedure for mean separation.
The largest trees had the highest accumulated yields while the smallest trees had the lowest yield and smallest nut size.
Trees on ‘Lovell’ and ‘Rootpac-R’ showed the most SWP stress.
Trees on ‘Empyrean 1’ and ‘Nickels’ are more tolerant of chloride and had lower leaf nitrogen; trees on ‘Lovell’ and ‘Rootpac-R’ had lower leaf and hull boron levels.
Annual rainfall averages 737 mm plus sprinkler irrigation during the growing season.
Tree spacing is 7.3 m across middles by 4.9 m down the tree row for a total a tree population of 279 trees per ha.
Tree growth was documented with trunk circumference measurements.
Nut size and yield data was collected annually through the tenth growing season.
Tree nutrition was characterized with leaf analysis in the seventh, ninth, and tenth years.
Nut maturity was measured by recording the timing and progression of hull split in the ninth and tenth growing seasons.
Concurrently the pre-harvest stress was determined using stem water potential (SWP) measurements.
Nematode populations were insignificant at this orchard site.
Data was processed using analysis of variance and Fishers protected LSD procedure for mean separation.
The largest trees had the highest accumulated yields while the smallest trees had the lowest yield and smallest nut size.
Trees on ‘Lovell’ and ‘Rootpac-R’ showed the most SWP stress.
Trees on ‘Empyrean 1’ and ‘Nickels’ are more tolerant of chloride and had lower leaf nitrogen; trees on ‘Lovell’ and ‘Rootpac-R’ had lower leaf and hull boron levels.
Authors
J.H. Connell, L. Milliron
Keywords
Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, vigor, yield, tree nutrition, nut size, hull split
Groups involved
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