Orchards
Rebuilding the nutrition programme of a Rafsanjan pistachio orchard
38% less mineral fertiliser alongside a higher split-nut percentage — achieved purely by correcting timing and application form.
- Fertiliser reduction
- −38%
- Split-nut gain
- +9 pt
- Area
- 42 ha
- Year
- 2024
Challenge
The client had been fertilising on a fixed calendar and verbal advice for years. Despite high input rates the split-nut percentage was poor and blank-nut incidence was rising. Initial analysis showed well-water salinity had increased and potassium and zinc uptake was effectively blocked.
Solution
The fertilisation plan shifted from heavy soil application to split fertigation so instantaneous concentration in the root zone stayed low. Chelated zinc was added as a foliar spray at two key timings, and a seasonal leaching schedule was defined to manage salinity.
Results
In the first season mineral fertiliser use fell 38% while the split-nut percentage improved by 9 points. Blank-nut incidence also dropped noticeably against the two-year average.
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