California Crop Fertilization Guidelines

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Almond Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

The Fertilization guidelines can also be found on the UC Davis Nutrient Management website .

Seasonal N Uptake

Total N in almond trees / Days of year

Changes in almond orchard N balance in annual and perennial organs as determined by sequential tree excavation and serial sampling of all organs scaled to a whole-orchard basis. Samples were taken in an orchard with 13-year-old Nonpareil-Monterey trees (50:50 mix). The kernel yield was 4,800 lbs [4].

Nitrogen Partitioning

Nitrogen partitioning pie chart

Nitrogen distribution in 13-year old almond trees with a kernel yield of 4,800 lbs [4].

Nitrogen Removed at Harvest

Nitrogen removed with harvested almonds. The value includes all N removed in hulls, shells and kernels. The overall average is weighted for the number of observations in each trial. More information can be found here.[3]

Location Variety Years Removal (lbs N/ton of kernels) Source
  Mean Range  
California Nonpareil 2008 119.5 112-126 [1,2]
    2009 120.3 106-138  
    2010 126.5 102-152  
    2011 133.5 108-150  
    2012 156.5 108-174  
  Monterey 2011 124.0 110-134 [2]
Weighted Average   136.0 102-174  

Links

 

References

  1. Brown, P., 2013. Development of a nutrient budget approach and optimization of fertilizer management in almond. Research report submitted to the Almond Board of California.
  2. Brown, P., Saa, S., Muhammad, S., 2012. Development of leaf sampling and interpretation methods for almond and development of a nutrient budget approach to fertilizer management in almond. Research report submitted to the Almond Board of California.
  3. Geisseler, D., 2016. Nitrogen concentrations in harvested plant parts -A literature overview. Report to the Kings River Watershed Coalition.
  4. Saa Silva, S., Muhammad, S., Sanden, B., Laca, E., Brown, P., 2012. Almond early-season sampling and in-season nitrogen maximizes productivity, minimizes loss.