Nutrient Removal for Almond

Comments (7)

1. 

   Doug Martin

   January 31, 2013

   iF your bumping up the nitrogen from 65 to 76-85# What would be the bumped up numbers on the phosphorous and potassium

   Reply
   • 

     David Doll

     January 31, 2013

     We think from previous research and experience that we are much more efficient in our potassium and phosphorous applications than we are with nitrogen. We do not experience losses of P and K to the air (I.e. NOx), and in most soils, these cations are harder to leach out of the rootzone. In saying that, we generally recommend applying what is removed with the crop. If on sandier soils, more K may be needed (+5% maybe?) as this cation does leach from the soil in high rainfall years or in over irrigated orchards. P most likely does not leach easily, its multiple positive charges keeps it stuck to the soil particle.

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2. 

   David Doll

   February 7, 2013

   Comment from Mark Davis, Great Salt Lake Mineral Corp.:

   “It may be worthwhile to point out that phosphorus and potassium fertilizer are sold on P2O5 and K2O analysis. I often get questions about this and its often confusing to many when we talk about removal in terms of P and K. If a grower is fertilizing for removal he needs to convert the P and K numbers to apply the correct amount of fertilizers…”

   Best,
   Mark

   Almond removal
   8lbs of P = 18.4lb of P2O5
   76 lbs of K = 91.2 lbs of K2O

   For Phosphorus

   o Lbs. P x 2.3 = lbs. P2O5

   o Lbs. P2O5 x 0.43 = lbs. P

   For Potash

   o Lbs. K x 1.2 = lbs. K20

   o Lbs. K20 x 0.83 = lbs. K

   Reply
3. 

   David Doll

   February 7, 2013

   Thanks Mark – I will add the information into the post and future entries as well.

   Reply
4. 

   Murat

   February 19, 2013

   Npk removed with every 1000 kernel pounds of almond that includes hulls, sticks, leaves, shells, and kernels.And we are fertilizing for this removal values.OK. But,preoccupy my mind that What happened to the needs of nutrients for the growth of trees ,how much does almond tree remove nutrients (N,P,K) for shoot,root growth and cambium expansion?Do I need to add these nutrients for growth in fertilization application.or do not need it on young bearing trees?

   Thanks

   Reply
   • 

     David Doll

     February 20, 2013

     Murat – the numbers given for nutrient removal on for crop-load is with the assumption that the orchard is mature, with full canopy. In the case of a mature orchard, all the major nitrogen sources are accounted for in the calculation – with the exception of leaves and roots. Leaves, however, are recycled back into the system, and therefore are not a major factor in nitrogen loss. Same thing in regard to fine root turnover.There may be some increased nutrient sequestration within the tree (~ 5lbs/acre??), but this is probably minimal in comparison to the demands of the crop load (85 lbs/1000 kernel pounds).

     In developing orchards, we are still working on nitrogen needs. Our best guess is that each year, as the tree develops, the tree will need about 25 lbs of N per acre just for basic growth functions until it reaches maturity. This nitrogen is sequestered into the tree and will be mobilized when the tree is in a need for N (bloom, leaf-out, etc.). Besides this “base” rate for developing trees, an estimate of crop load must be made in order to determine if more N is needed. So lets say that a third leaf almond orchard looks to bear about 300 lbs/acre, we know, base on crop removal values, that roughly 30 lbs of N will be needed to maintain the crop, and 25 lbs of N is needed for tree growth. In order to maintain nitrogen levels within the tree, 55 pounds of N must be applied plus whatever is needed to for the various inefficiencies.

     Keep in mind that nitrogen is not usually the limiting factor in young tree development; it typically is water. I do not think that excessive rates of phosphorous and potassium are needed for young tree development – or rather, I do not have data that suggests high rates are worth their costs. Probably somewhere around the 10-15 lbs/acre range for K. With P, in California soils, soil levels are usually ample enough for tree development and typically not needed.

     Reply

5. Major Nutrient Fertilizers: Thoughts to Reduce Operational Costs without Impacting Productivity - The Almond Doctor

   October 30, 2021

   […] is needed for the tree to maximally produce. These studies first occurred in the early 1990’s and were re-done between 2008-2013. In summary, the projects concluded that for every 1000 lbs of almond kernels harvested, 68 lbs of […]

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