jan-feb-2020

buds start to move and applications planned for the season. Almonds remove 68 pounds of N per 1,000 pounds of kernel crop (hulls, shells, and kernels) from the orchard at harvest. For planning purposes, multiply (68 pounds per 1,000 pound) by average kernel crop yield from a block to get expected average crop N use in that orchard. Adjust that number upwards to account for inefficiency of soil application (divide expected crop N use by 0.70 to 0.80) and you have a target fertilizer budget for the year if no other sources of N inputs. “Other” sources of N include irrigation water nitrate-N, so include nitrate in the irrigation water analysis this spring/summer so N from this source can be used in the N budget. For every one ppm NO3-N in an irrigation water source, there are 2.7 pounds N per acre foot. Reduction in fertilizer N rate due to irrigation nitrate levels will be most significant when ET is highest — late spring and summer. Boron (0.2 to 0.4 pound actual boron per acre) at pink bud in 2020 may increase nut set if hull boron analysis from 2019 shows a need and a fall spray wasn’t applied. However, check with your beekeeper before applying as boron may be harmful to bees. Dr. Patrick Brown, UC Davis Plant Sciences Department, recommends not spraying open flowers or bees. Boron can improve set when sprayed on flowers at pink stage, but can reduce set when sprayed on open flowers. If you haven’t yet but still want to, early winter may be a time for dry potassium sulfate application if orchards are not too wet for equipment access yet winter rains aren’t finished. If rain is not in the forecast, growers may want to wait until after mummies have been shaken and windrowed before Magnum X Harvester 100 Loren Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 (530) 891-6214 | Fax (530) 891-5905 | www.weissmcnair.com Complete Line of Quality Nut Harvesting Equipment Self-Propelled Harvesters P.T.O. Harvesters Self-Propelled Air Cab Sweepers Self-Propelled Sweepers Tractor Mount Sweepers P.T.O. Blowers Fewer MovingParts Easy Maintenance HighResale MORE HARVEST PROFIT AT A LOWER COST LOWDUST QUALIFIED WM-AlmondFacts1/2v.indd 1 7/18/17 5:17 PM 4 5 J A N U A R Y – F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0