Hazelnut also known as cobnut or filbert nut, is a crop of temperate zone of India. It is also called as winri or wiri in Kashmir, Pangi in HP and Bhutia badam, Kapasi in Uttarakhand. It is native of Europe and Western Asia. Two species of hazel are found i.e. cobnut (oval shape and long) and filbert (more elongated and round than cobnut). It is an excellent source of Protein, omega 9, vitamin B and E and fibers. It helps in lowering bad cholesterol. Its dietary fiber protects from cancer and several diseases. Its oil is good for skin and as an astringent and also used in ant- aging product. 

It is mainly used in production of chocolate industries and confectionaries. Oil extracted from it, is used for cooking as well as in cosmetic industry. Turkey is major producer of Hazelnut. In India, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand and North-Eastern Himalayan regions are major hazelnut growing areas of India.

Nainital, Uttarkashi are major hazelnut growing areas of Uttarakhand.
 

Moderately fertile soils are good for hazelnut cultivation. Ideal pH range of soil is between 4.5 to 8.5. Hazelnut is shallow rooted crop and doesn’t survive in too wet conditions. Avoid heavy soils for its cultivation. Also, too dry soil especially during summer is harmful for crop.

Barcelona: It is high yield giving variety. It has thick peel.

Italian Red: It is also high yield giving variety but it gets affected by cold winter.

Cosford: It is very successful commercial variety. The variety is resistant to cold.

Tonda Giffoni: Medium size tree. Fruit having hard stone and flat nut with brown color.

Tonda Romana: Medium size tree. Stone is hard, kernel is dark brownish in color.

Gentile Delle Langhe: Medium size tree. Stone is soft, kernel weight about 2.4gm. Kernel is creamy white color with pointed beak.

Kashmir selection: Large tree with single to multi branches. Kernel having weight about 0.48 to 0.55gram.  

Other variety: Negret, Pauetet,Tombul
 

For hazelnut cultivation well prepared land is required. For planting purpose, dug the pits of size 1m X 1m X 1m, one month before planting. Each pit is filled with mixture of soil, farm yard manure or well decomposed cow dung and Single super phosphate.
 

Time of sowing
The sowing should be done in the month of February-March.

Spacing
For sowing use spacing of 4mx4m or 5mx5m.

Sowing Depth
In nursery, seeds are sown at depth is 2-3 cm.

Method of sowing
Use transplanting method.

 

Seed Rate
When spacing of 5mx5m is used, near about 160trees get accommodates in one-acre land.

Hazel nut is propagated by air layering, grafting and budding also from rooted suckers.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

In autumn season, apply well decomposed cowdung@10-12ton/acre along with N@40kg/ acre, Phosphorus@62kg and Potash@20kg per acre. Apply in form of Urea@86kg, DAP@130kg and MoP@34kg per acre.

Apply half of Nitrogen in spring season and apply remaining one month later. Give whole quantity of P and K in month of December-January. Provide light irrigation after fertilizer use.

Hazelnut requires little water for their growth specially on fertile soils with good water holding capacity. If needed, depending upon soil moisture, provide irrigation. Nut filling stage is important for irrigation. Avoid water stress at this stage. 
 

Plants start yielding 3-4years after planting. Hazelnut is harvested during, late summer and early autumn. Right time of harvesting is when nuts change its color from green to brown. Near about 2-2.5 kg of nuts/tree is obtained from five year old plant.