ALMOND

It is a deciduous tree which reaches upto the height of 10m and having diameter of trunk is 30-35cm. almonds belong to Rosaceae family. It has drupe fruit which consist of an outer hull and seed consisting of hard shell. Because of its nutritional value and health benefits, almonds are export well in the markets. Almonds can be grown in even pots or containers. It is used for making of almond milk, almond syrup, almond oil and almond flour. It helps in relieving constipation, preventing colon cancer, boosting immune system, and for regulating blood pressure.

It is grown in almost all varieties of soil. But deep and well drained loamy soil is best for the cultivation of almonds. Avoid cultivation in water logged soils and in high water table soils. pH of having 7.0-8.5 is suitable for almond farming.

Nouni Selection: Medium developing plant which grows straight, normal fruiting, late flowering, comparatively more growth; nuts are medium in size, papery peel, very early maturing (third week of june) in mid-hills, nuts are brown in color, small, somewhat wrinkled, sweet and good quality, as it peels gets easily broken it is used for sale purposes, kernel gives 55-60% nuts yield.

Nikitskai: Normal fruit giving variety, medium, late flowering, medium yield giving variety, soft kernel, matures early in mid hills area (fourth week of June), medium to big size nuts which are small in size, brown in color, somewhat wrinkled, good quality yield, sweet variety, kernel gives 45-50% nuts yield.

White Brandice: Medium growing plant, straight growing, regular yield giving, late maturing, comparatively more fruitful, papery kernel having small-medium in size, in mid hills the crop gets ready in third week of June, nuts are small and deep brown in color, somewhat wrinkled, sweet and good quality, more yield, kernel gives 60-65% nuts yield.

Thin sheld: Plant has medium growth, straight spreading, dense, early suitable yield giving, big kernel which is light brown in color, attractive, sword shape, the peel gets easily separated from kernel, papery, nuts are brown in color, sweet and delicious in taste.

Ni-plus-ultra: Early growing plant, spreading and medium yield giving, big kernel, rectangular, papery, kernel gives 29% yield, kernel gives 29% nuts yield, nuts are light to deep brown in color.

Drek: Rectangular kernel having head round or sharp, white color, medium stiffness, 30% nuts yield, brown color nuts, long, spreading plant, unlimited fruiting and more yield.

Texas: Kernel are medium size, rectangular, less stiffness, 40% nut yield, plant growth is more, straight growth and medium yield giving.

Non-pareil: Spreader kernel, flat and thin from head, big, papery, 65% nuts yield, plant has medium growth, straight spreading, and suitable yield giving.    

Other state varieties:

Soft shell varieties: Thompson, Carmel, Rudy.

Hard shell varieties: Buttei, Texas.

Regular shell variety: Um-el-Fahem, Marcona, California Mission Neplus, Be’eri, Greek, Hanatziv.
 

For almond farming, well prepared land is required. To bring the soil to the fine tilth, ploughing is done couple of times followed by leveling. At the time of last ploughing, the land is filled with organic matter.

Time of sowing:
Planting should be done in February-March month.

Spacing:
Plant spacing of 6m X 6m or 4m X 4m or 3.5m X 3.5m is used.

Sowing depth:
Making pits of 3ft X 3ft X 3ft for planting the trees in the pits.

Method of sowing:
Grafting or budding method is used.
 

For the proper establishment of plant, pruning and training is required. Training of tree is done 1m above the ground at the time of planting. The training should not be done less than 0.7m above the ground. Training is done by leaving 3-4 scaffold branches which will help to balance the tree well.


 

Depending upon soil type and climatic conditions irrigation is done. Irrigation is given whenever water stress conditions are seen. Mainly at the time of flowering or fruit development stage they are more sensitive to water stress therefore irrigation is necessary at this time. For proper utilization of water, drip irrigation is adopted. After irrigation or heavy rainfall, drain out the excess water from the fields.

Application of FYM@20-25kg/tree is done during winter fall i.e. in December to January month. Urea dose should be applied in 2-3 splits. Full dose of DAP and MOP and first half dose of urea is applied at fortnight before expected blooming, second dose of urea is applied about three weeks after fruit set and then the third dose is applied in May-June month. Foliar spray of urea@1.5-2% is done for promoting fruiting bud formation and for subsequent growth in the next season.

• Disease and their control:
  

Powdery mildew: The typical symptom of this disease is rust on almond hulls.
Treatment: Application of fungicides at the time of mid spring is effective in prevention of powdery mildew. Resistant varieties must be grown. Application of Mancozeb @400gm or Z-78 is done after.

 

Rust: The symptoms are small, yellow color spots are seen on the upper surface of leaves and red color rusty spots are seen on the lower surface of the leaves.
Treatment: Application of Sulphur or Mancozeb @400gm is done after 5 weeks of petal fall and then it is applied 4-5 weeks later in the late spring.

 

Scab: The symptoms are grayish black color spots are seen on the leaves, fruits and twigs.
Treatment: Application of Mancozeb @400gm is done after 5weeks of petal fall in late spring for the protection from scab.

• Pest and their control:
  

Stink bugs: It mainly affects the crops in May-July month. The kernel becomes wrinkled and shows the symptoms of black spot at the puncture site.
Treatment: Application of EKalux@300ml or Malathion@400ml is done for the protection of stink bugs.

Tree borers: The larva bore into trees which will lead to trunk cankers and ultimately death of the tree.
Treatment: If larva is present spraying is done 2-3 times. First spraying is done in mid to late April and then after the intervals of 6 months. Application of Fame@20ml or Monocil@400ml is done.

Harvesting is mainly done in late August to September month when nuts are fully dried. Harvesting is done by manual plucking. After plucking the hull is removed manually. It gives an average yield of upto 400-800gm per acre.
 

After removal of hull, nuts are sun dried until their moisture content reaches 5-7%. After drying nuts are de-hulled and then shelled.