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water holding ability are also increased<br />
with whole orchard recycling.<br />
This process involves removal of<br />
almond trees, grinding them into small<br />
chips on site and spreading the chips<br />
on the orchard site. After disking the<br />
chips into the ground, and further site<br />
preparation, new trees are planted.<br />
Holtz said orchard removal means<br />
grinding 25-30 years worth of photosynthesis<br />
and carbon and nutrient<br />
accumulation and hauling it away. The<br />
25-30 years of organic matter is lost,<br />
estimated at 60 tons per acre for an<br />
almond orchard.<br />
With whole orchard recycling, the<br />
cost of spreading the chips adds about<br />
$400 per acre, but the benefits include:<br />
N= 0.31 %, 396 lbs/ac K= 0.20 %, 256<br />
lbs/ac Ca= 0.60 %, 768 lbs/ac and C=<br />
50 %, 64,000 lbs/ac. The nutrients will<br />
be released gradually and naturally.<br />
Holtz noted that at the 64 tons per acre<br />
rate, the C/N ratio was out of balance,<br />
causing initial tree stunting and total<br />
weed suppression. Doubling the N applications<br />
with fertigation was done to<br />
achieve desired growth.<br />
Holtz noted that the San Joaquin<br />
Valley Air Pollution Control District<br />
(SJVAD) recently approved a program<br />
that will reward growers with funding<br />
from $300-600 per acre up to $60,000<br />
per year to implement whole orchard<br />
recycling.<br />
Gemperle said her experiences with<br />
whole orchard recycling and cover<br />
crops have been positive. The new trees<br />
planted in September had some new<br />
growth prior to dormancy and the cover<br />
crop mixture has provided welcome bee<br />
forage in the orchard – which keeps her<br />
bee supplier happy.<br />
Mustard is in bloom when the hives<br />
are placed in the orchard. After almond<br />
bloom, the clover provides forage. Her<br />
suggestion to almond growers who plan<br />
on planting cover crops is to use a battery<br />
powered ant bait spreader mounted<br />
on a quad to spread the seed down the<br />
rows.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
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liventia-print-ad-soil-pro-<strong>WCN</strong>-7.25X5-8-2019.indd 1<br />
<strong>February</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />
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8/8/19 11:15 AM<br />
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