Almond trees in Spain require about 1,000 millimeters of water per season to reach top performance, yet what is allocated by the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation totals 250 millimeters. Despite this gap, the cultivated area for this crop in Spain has grown by 24 percent since 2015. The country now ranks as the second largest almond producer in the world after the United States, though yield per hectare remains well below the U.S. level.
Researchers from the Center for Desertification Studies, a joint center of the CSIC, the University of Valencia, and the Generalitat Valenciana, conducted an analysis from 15 almond irrigation trials to determine the optimal water levels needed to maximize productivity.
In Agricultural Water Management, the study finds that irrigation or rainfall totaling 1,000 millimeters feeds the almond tree in semi arid Mediterranean conditions in Spain, with the highest yields around 2,500 kilograms per hectare.
Almond bloom was photographed for documentation by Picasa or Photocommunity and is noted here for the record of the season.
The study examined two irrigation scenarios. One involved a constant insufficiency of water throughout the season, and the other involved controlled restricted irrigation, where water shortages occur only during certain periods. It concluded that under moderate water stress, controlled restricted irrigation yields better results for almond trees than continuous open irrigation.
According to Diego S. Intrigliolo, a CSIC researcher at CIDE, this research provides a basis for sustainable irrigation protocols. Its results can help farmers determine irrigation allowances needed to maximize yields and understand how the tree responds to water deficits.
Intrigliolo adds that water management authorities in different Spanish hydrographic basins can use these findings to improve overall water resource management, freeing irrigation communities and balancing existing water demand within basins.
Spain, second world producer
Almond cultivation has shown strong growth in recent years on Spanish soil, placing Spain as the second largest producer after the United States. Planted area rose from 580,467 hectares in 2015 to 721,796 hectares, a 24 percent increase, according to data used in the study.
Almond production areas in Spain were documented for reference, showing the expansion of cultivation across the country.
However, the relatively low yield from dry land almond growing, averaging about 0.58 tonnes per hectare compared to 4.68 tonnes per hectare in the United States, signals the need for strategies to boost yield in Spanish conditions.
Beyond productivity concerns, water supply from regulatory authorities is also tightening. The Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation provided 250 millimeters of water for almond fields, while the 2015 hydrological plans call for irrigation to cover crop evapotranspiration, which in Southern Spain would require roughly 800 millimeters. This makes efficient water use essential for stable almond production.
Therefore, ongoing research into the best use of water in almond trees remains vital, as the expected yield will vary with the amount of irrigation that can be applied according to regulatory limits and seasonal conditions. This study contributes a practical framework for growers to gauge irrigation allowances and assess how different water regimes influence yield outcomes.
Reference work cited: Agricultural Water Management, a study accessible through scholarly databases with attribution to the authors and the journal for further reading and context.
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