Salinity Tolerance of Six Almond Rootstocks Nonpareil yields for 2009 Carmel yields for 2009

3000 500
David Doll, Farm Advisor, Merced County Cooperating personnel: Arnold Farms, Roger Duncan (UCCE Stanislaus County) 2500 A A P=0.05
A
A
P=0.05

Kernal lbs/acre

Kernal lbs/acre
400
Introduction: Objectives: % of Trees Observed with Salt Burn A B
Sodium Content as a % of Leaf Tissue 100
2000
300
A rootstock trial was established in 1990 on 1. Use tissue analysis to determine the influence 0.6 BB B B P=0.05 1500 B B B
B 75 B B B
loamy sand soil in northern Merced County. of the six rootstocks on the leaf 0.5 P=0.05 B B B 1000
200 B
Severe B
concentrations of sodium and chloride, 50 100
Four peach rootstocks, Halford, Nemaguard, 0.4 B B B 500
2. Count the number of trees expressing B B 25
Nemared, and Lovell, and two peach almond 0.3 B
B 0 0
symptoms of salt burn in the orchard, 0 AA AA
hybrid rootstocks, Brights P.A. Hybrid and 0.2 Increasing
Hansen 536, were spaced 24’x24’ containing 3. Measure the yield of the various rootstocks A A
0.1
two varieties, Nonpareil and Carmel. The block and compare their performance. A A Nonpareil
0
was irrigated with solid-set sprinklers using Methods: Results: Carmel Conclusions:
well water with moderately high sodium. All Mid-July leaf sampling was conducted following Carmel 1. Peach x almond hybrid rootstocks had lower concentrations of sodium and chloride 1. Peach x almond hybrids appear to have a higher sodium and chloride tolerance than peach
rootstocks and both varieties were farmed University of California recommendations. Leaves Nonpareil within the leaf tissues in comparison to the peach rootstocks; rootstocks, and are able to out-yield peach rootstocks in conditions of high sodium;
according to the grower’s standard practice. from replicate trees of the same variety and 2. A high percentage of peach rootstocks had symptoms of salt burn, while trees planted 2. Peach x almond hybrids can be used to help manage sodium issues within orchards, but the
block were pooled for analysis. All samples were Chloride Content as a % of Leaf Tissue with peach x almond hybrid rootstocks had no leaf burn present; genetic tolerance to sodium should not take the place of proper irrigation and salt
Earlier research within this trial has submitted to UC Davis Analytical Laboratory for 0.25 Increasing 3. Peach x almond hybrid rootstocks produced more yield than Halford, Lovell, and
P=0.05 management strategies – i.e. applying a leaching fraction;
demonstrated that peach x almond hybrids analysis. Prior to harvest, observations of the B Nemared rootstocks within the Nonpareil variety; peach x almond hybrids out-yielded
0.2 3. Keep in mind that peach x almond hybrids are susceptible to Ring Nematode, Bacterial
out-grow and out yield peach rootstocks. trees expressing symptom of salt burn were B B B all peach rootstocks within the Carmel variety. Canker, and Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot.
Furthermore, leaves on peach rootstocks have made. Harvest yields were taken to allow a 0.15 B B B Photographs indicative of the rootstock performance after 20 years of growing within the trial conditions.
B
showed symptoms of salt burn during late comparison of rootstocks 20 year post planting. Lovell Rootstock Nemared Rootstock Bright’s Hybrid Rootstock Hanson Rootstock
0.1 Halford Rootstock Nemaguard Rootstock
summer while symptoms are not present on
the peach x almond hybrid rootstocks. 0.05 A A
A A
Table 1: Analysis of the well water used for irrigation within the trial
0
Sodium Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Chloride E.C.
It is thought that peach x almond hybrid (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L) (meq/L)
rootstocks perform better than peach Well 6.35 2.10 5.59 0.00 0.63 1.38 Carmel
rootstocks in areas of elevated sodium levels. UC Rec 3.0 4.0 >1.00 Carmel Nonpareil
Nonpareil Carmel Nonpareil Carmel Nonpareil Carmel Nonpareil Carmel Nonpareil Carmel Nonpareil
Values