HARVEST
EARLIER
A PROMISING TOOL TO MANAGE ALTERNATE BEARING CROPS
One of the pistachio industry’s greatest challenges is managing the yield variability. The cause is a genetic trait in pistachio varieties known as alternating bearing.
Research claims that the alternate bearing trait is related to the tree variety’s natural reaction to a heavy nut load. The high yield taxes the plant’s energy (sugars, carbohydrates) resulting in the abortion of the following year’s fruiting shoot buds.
We know a single Dormex® application 30 days or more before anticipated normal bud break activates flower and leaf buds. With Dormex® more buds open so you have more potential for yield this year and more fruiting wood for next year.
INCREASES YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR!
PISTACHIO TRIAL RESULTS ARE IN! Year over year, “on-year” or “off-year” Dormex® performs on Pistachios.
It consistently advances both the male and female bud swell bloom window by 10 to 13 days compared to the control, with complete coverage and overall of the bloom windows.
The synchronization in using Dormex® ensures that the entire female bloom period is pollinated, providing optimal conditions for fruit set.
APPLICATION TIMING OF Dormex® IS CRITICAL
Growers need to MAXIMIZE NATURAL CHILL PORTIONS BEFORE spraying Dormex®!
In addition to NATURAL Chill Portions, calendar timing is also important. Per the Dormex® label: growers need to apply 30 days before anticipated bud-break.
You can see in our trials below we sprayed at Chill Portions ranging from CP59 this past year to CP70 in 2023. Calendar dates were roughly the last week of February. As a rule of thumb, (and every year is different); 1) maximize NATURAL chill and 2) spray between February 15th and the first of March – – but always 30 days before anticipated bud-break per the Dormex® label.
2022 PISTACHIO TRIALS – “OFF YEAR”
Two trials here at two locations. Ranch 1 (average chill) & Ranch 2 (low chill).
Ranch 1 INCREASED yield by 725 lbs. per acre vs the control. Sprayed February 24 at 65 Chill Portions.
Ranch 2 INCREASED yield by 854 lbs. per acre vs the control. Sprayed February 28 at 60 Chill Portions.
2023 PISTACHIO TRIALS – “ON YEAR”
This year was a record year with almost perfect chill. Trials were on Ranch 1 and 2 again.
Ranch 1 INCREASED yield by 219 lbs. per acre vs the control. Sprayed February 18 at 70 Chill Portions.
Ranch 2 INCREASED yield by 230 lbs. per acre vs. the control. Sprayed February 21 at 70 Chill Portions.
2024 PISTACHIO TRIALS – “OFF YEAR”
This year was troubled by extremely low chill well into February. Our Trial was only at Ranch 1 but in a large replicated Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 blocks. Each block were 10 rows with 158 trees including the male row. Total trees treated 14,220. Ranch 1 INCREASED yield by 763 lbs. per acre vs. the control. Sprayed February 22 at 59 Chill Portions.
INCREASE
YOUR
YIELD
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