An almond variety released in 2021 by the USDA is showing potential as a high-yielding tree suited to off-ground harvest systems with catch frames.
Catch frame harvest is not yet standard practice in almonds, but efforts to reduce dust during harvest are encouraging interest in alternatives. Duarte Nursery in Hughson, California, markets the Yorizane trees. According to John Duarte, president of Duarte Nursery, three-year-old trees in his Modesto orchard could produce 2,000 pounds per acre when grafted onto vigorous rootstocks.
Duarte reported yields of more than 1,000 pounds per acre at 24 months. The Yorizane trees he manages are grafted to Bright's Hybrid 5 rootstock, a peach-almond hybrid known for vigor. "If it does pan out and these trends continue, and we think they will, we're going to end up with a variety that really changes the economics of almond growing and solves some of the major problems of dust, bee health, and economics for the growers," he said.
The USDA-developed trees are royalty-free and bred to reduce the need for honeybees in pollination. They require no pollinator trees in the same orchard, and only minimal bees are needed to achieve yields. Duarte tested the variety by netting a tree to prevent bee access, yet nuts were still produced. The Yorizane is both self-fertile and self-fruitful, meaning it can pollinate with its own pollen as the pistil and stamen are positioned close together.
At a mid-August field day in Modesto, Duarte demonstrated off-ground harvesting in three-year-old trees. "The orchard here is set up somewhat for off-ground harvesting, but there are some very specific changes we'd have to make this kind of planting ideal for off-ground, catch frame harvesting," he said. Adjustments include different pruning practices to avoid leaving nuts around tree trunks.
To address this, Duarte is promoting the use of "high top trees." "Instead of selling growers a 42-inch tree, we want to sell a 54-inch tree, and that gives growers all the space they need to clean that tree trunk up to 30 to 32 inches and then have a nice central leader for minimal or no pruning," he said.
Source: FarmProgress