This almond trees Spaniards must take in 1,000 millimeters of water each season to reach their maximum performance., but donations set up by the Hydrographic Confederation of Guadalquivir remain at 250 millimeters. In Spain, however, the cultivated area for this crop has increased by 24% since 2015. Our country is currently the second largest producer in the world after the USA, but the production per hectare is still far below the USA.
Researchers from the Center for Desertification Studies (CIDE), a joint center of the Supreme Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the University of Valencia (UV) and the Generalitat Valenciana, an analysis based on 15 almond irrigation trials to determine optimum water levels It must be applied to maximize the productivity of this crop.
published work, Agricultural Water Management, He finds that 1,000 millimeters of irrigation or rainwater feeds the almond tree in semi-arid Mediterranean conditions in Spain. Highest yield at around 2,500 kilograms per hectare.
Study analyzed two types of irrigation: on the one hand, constant insufficient watering of the almond tree (where there is a constant lack of water throughout the season); and, on the other hand, controlled restricted irrigation (where there is a lack of water only during certain periods). It was concluded that in case of moderate water stress, controlled restricted irrigation is more beneficial for almond tree than continuous open.
According to Diego S. Intrigliolo, a CSIC researcher at CIDE, “this research is useful for establishing sustainable irrigation protocolsand its results can be used by farmers to find out what irrigation allowances they will have to apply to maximize yields and to know the tree’s response to a water deficit”.
“Water management regulatory bodies in different Spanish hydrographic basins can use these results to achieve better management of water resources, which can free up irrigation communities and better balance existing water demand in the basin,” Intrigliolo says.
Spain, second world producer
Almond cultivation is a Strong growth in recent years on Spanish soilIt made Spain the second world producer after the United States. It has evolved from 580,467 hectares planted in 2015 to 721,796 hectares, 24% more.according to the data used in the study.
However, the low yield provided by growing the almond tree in dry land, Only 0.58 tonnes per hectare compared to 4.68 in the United Statesrequires the search for a strategy that gives the farmer a higher yield.
In addition to the performance problems, there is also a reduction in the water supply from regulatory authorities, according to the study. The Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation provided 250mm of water supply for almond fields. The 2015 hydrological plans require a very far figure from irrigation to cover crop evapotranspiration (i.e. evaporation from soil and tree-covered surface and transpiration from plant leaves). , from which source 800 mm in Southern Spain.
“Therefore, it is vital to conduct research that explores the best use of water in almond trees, determining how the expected yield may vary depending on the amount of irrigation that can be done.” study. .
Reference work: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377423000732?via%3Dihub
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