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Continued from Page 9
preparation to allow for settling over the
winter,” Krueger added.
Berms have the added bonus of concentrating
the best quality soil and at the
same time deepening the topsoil along
the tree line.
Researchers also advise growers to
have soil samples tested to determine the
chemical properties in the area of consideration
for planting. Once tested at an
agricultural laboratory, have the results
interpreted by a UCCE farm advisor to
know what modifications need to be
made.
Design
According to research conducted by
Bruce Lampinen, UCCE integrated orchard
management and walnut/almond
specialist, and Janine Hasey, UCCE
Yuba/Sutter counties farm advisor, one
of the most important aspects of establishing
a walnut orchard is its design,
and following that, the difficult decision
of determining tree and row spacing.
In their article, Proper Walnut
Spacing for Light Exposure, the duo
of specialists say planting design
should provide the tree canopy with
maximum exposure to sunlight and
allow ease of equipment operation.
Walnut orchards are typically
arranged in one of two planting systems
that have different methods of
management—the standard spaced,
or the hedgerow configuration.
Traditionally, walnuts have been planted
in widely spaced orchards that allow the tree
canopy to expand and fill its allotted space.
With the hedgerow design, the trees are
planted closer together down the tree row.
In a multi-year study, Lampinen and
Hasey utilized an especially equipped ATV
Mule to measure and monitor canopy
light interception in an effort to learn how
orchard design and canopy light relates to
Traditional walnut planting design and
hedgerow configuration.
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yield, and how tree spacing influences canopy
development and yield potential.
In sharing what they learned from the
study, and how that information can be
used, Lampinen and Hasey said results indicated
it takes three to four years to redevelop
the complexity of branching that existed
before hedging.
Therefore, they wrote, production will
be lost for the first few years after hedging
Chandler and other varieties.
“We recommend Chandler in a standard
spaced orchard for long-term maximum
yields (e.g. a minimum spacing on poorer
soils would be 25 feet by 25 feet with wider
spacing on better soils),” Lampinen and
Hasey said.
However, they advised, if a hedgerow
design is still desired, then consider Howard
variety, which is a less vigorous, smaller tree
than Chandler.
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Jeannine Lowrimore
Northern California
209.603.9244
Christeen Abbott-Hearn
Central and Coastal California
559.334.7664
Continued on Page 12
10 West Coast Nut December 2017