Articles
Improving pecan nut yield by applying Kelpak® during flowering
Article number
1420_28
Pages
207 – 214
Language
English
Abstract
Kelpak® is a biostimulant product made from Ecklonia maxima seaweed.
Numerous trials on a wide variety of crops have shown that Kelpak® can stimulate root growth, improve plant establishment, mitigate abiotic stress, improve fruit size, crop quality, and increase fruit and nut set which ultimately culminates to increase yields.
Kelpak® has proven to be effective in improving yields in most nut crops including almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecan nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
During 2016-2019, three trials were conducted on pecan nut cultivars ‘Choctaw’ and ‘Ukulinga’ in White River, South Africa.
Results showed that Kelpak® significantly improved nut yield.
To confirm these results in a high production area, a trial was conducted during the 2021-2022 season on pecan nut cultivar ‘Wichita’ in Hartswater, South Africa.
For each treatment, 20 trees were randomly selected to be included in the trial.
There were two treatments which consisted of Kelpak® being applied as a foliar application at a dose of either 0.2 or 0.3%. The foliar applications were applied at 50% catkin elongation, pistillate flower and nut set developmental stages.
Kelpak® applied at 0.2 and 0.3% improved nut set percentage and crack-out percentage significantly compared to the untreated control.
Applying Kelpak® at 0.2% improved total nut yield numerically but only Kelpak® applied at a rate of 0.3% improved yield significantly compared to the control.
By applying Kelpak® at 0.3% produced a total nut yield of 2970 kg ha‑1 compared to 2560 kg ha‑1 for the control, a yield increase of 16%. It is noteworthy that Kelpak® seems to follow a dose response curve in pecan nuts, with the higher dose of 0.4% producing better results than 0.3% which again is better than Kelpak® applied at 0.2%. This trial confirms that three Kelpak® applications at a rate of at least 0.3% during flowering can significantly improve yield in pecan nuts.
Numerous trials on a wide variety of crops have shown that Kelpak® can stimulate root growth, improve plant establishment, mitigate abiotic stress, improve fruit size, crop quality, and increase fruit and nut set which ultimately culminates to increase yields.
Kelpak® has proven to be effective in improving yields in most nut crops including almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecan nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
During 2016-2019, three trials were conducted on pecan nut cultivars ‘Choctaw’ and ‘Ukulinga’ in White River, South Africa.
Results showed that Kelpak® significantly improved nut yield.
To confirm these results in a high production area, a trial was conducted during the 2021-2022 season on pecan nut cultivar ‘Wichita’ in Hartswater, South Africa.
For each treatment, 20 trees were randomly selected to be included in the trial.
There were two treatments which consisted of Kelpak® being applied as a foliar application at a dose of either 0.2 or 0.3%. The foliar applications were applied at 50% catkin elongation, pistillate flower and nut set developmental stages.
Kelpak® applied at 0.2 and 0.3% improved nut set percentage and crack-out percentage significantly compared to the untreated control.
Applying Kelpak® at 0.2% improved total nut yield numerically but only Kelpak® applied at a rate of 0.3% improved yield significantly compared to the control.
By applying Kelpak® at 0.3% produced a total nut yield of 2970 kg ha‑1 compared to 2560 kg ha‑1 for the control, a yield increase of 16%. It is noteworthy that Kelpak® seems to follow a dose response curve in pecan nuts, with the higher dose of 0.4% producing better results than 0.3% which again is better than Kelpak® applied at 0.2%. This trial confirms that three Kelpak® applications at a rate of at least 0.3% during flowering can significantly improve yield in pecan nuts.
Publication
Authors
H.B. Papenfus, P. Larrain
Keywords
seaweed biostimulant, Ecklonia maxima, crack-out, nut set, nut retention
Groups involved
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