Management of Nitrogen iinn AAllmmoonnddss aanndd Pistachios New Leaf Sampling and Nutrient BBuuddggeettss ffoorr AAllmmoonndd aanndd Pistachio - Questions - Opportunities PPaattrriicckk BBrroowwnn,, PPrrooffeessssoorr,, Department of Plant Sciences Universityy of California,, Davis Nitrogen is eesssseennttiiaall ffoorr productivity but wwhheenn mmaannaaggeedd poorly N results in eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall problems. Historical N applications have Exceeded Crop Demand Nitrogen is Resulting in Groundwater Contamination eesssseennttiiaall ffoorr productivity but wwhheenn mmaannaaggeedd poorly N results in eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall problems. Legislative Response: Mandated Nitrogen MMaannaaggeemmeenntt PPllaannnniinngg •• AApppplliiccaattiioonn rraatteess wwiillll bbee bbaasseedd uuppoonn ffiieelldd ssppeecciiffiicc ccrroopp NN bbuuddggeett estimations, accounting for all applied N x ‘efficiency factor’ (60-80%). • New techniques for N budgeting • MMaxiimiiziing niitrogen use effffiiciiency wiillll bbe criitiicall • Certified Crop Advisor sign off required. • TTraiiniing andd certtiiffiicattiion process undder ddevellopmentt • Post season verification and reporting. •• WWiillll rreeqquuiirree eennhhaanncceedd eeffffiicciieennccyy ooff NN uussee. SSiittee ((oorrcchhaarrdd)) ssppeecciiffiicc management. In season monitoring and adjustment. • New techniques for leaf sampling • In the short term this will be a self-reporting industry driven activity. • However, if impprovements in gground water resources are not realized then a tightening of these regulations can be expected. Whenever there is a problem, there is  also an opportunity… ……IIIImmmmpppprrrroooovvvviiiinnnngggg  tttthhhheeee  EEEEffffffffiiiicccciiiieeeennnnccccyyyy  ooooffff  NNNNiiiittttrrrrooooggggeeeennnn  uuuusssseeee   wwiillll  RReedduuccee  PPrroodduuccttiioonn  CCoossttss  aanndd  RReedduuccee   EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall  IImmppaacctt Efficient Nitrogen Management --tthhee 44 RR’ss-- Right Rate Apply the • Match supply with tree demand (all inputs- fertilizer, organic N, water, soil). Right Time Apply at the • AApplly coiinciiddentt wiitthh ttree ddemandd andd roott upttakke. Rigght Place Apppplyy In the • Ensure delivery to the active roots. • MMiinniimmiizzee mmoovveemmeenntt bbeellooww rroooott zzoonnee Right Sampling and Monitoring Procedures Use the The 4 R’s are specific to ever individual orchard and every year. How do we estimate  the 4 R’s in Almonds? Manipulative Experiment for five years Observational Experiment for four years Efficient Nitrogen Management --tthhee 44 RR’ss-- Right Rate Apply the • Match supply with tree demand (all inputs- fertilizer, organic N, water, soil). Right Time Apply at the • AApplly coiinciiddentt wiitthh ttree ddemandd andd roott upttakke. • CONTROLLED RELEASE? Right Place Apply In the • EEnnssuurree ddeelliivveerryy ttoo tthhee aaccttiivvee rroooottss.. • Minimize movement below root zone Determining the Right Rate and Timing Nutrient Budget Approach • WWhhaatt iiss tthhee ttoottaall aannnnuuaall ttrreeee ddeemmaanndd?? • When during growth and development does uptake occur? Apppproach: • Whole tree excavation, trunk coring, sequential nut collection and analysis, yield measurements- 1000’s of individual trees at multiple ssitteess aandd yyeeaarss PPPPeeeerrrreeeennnnnnnniiiiaaaallll TTTTiiiissssssssuuuueeeessss AAAAnnnnnnnnuuuuaaaallll TTTTiiiissssssssuuuueeeessss TToottaall NNuuttrriieenntt DDeemmaanndd aanndd TTiimmiinngg