Yield, quality, alternate bearing and long-term yield index in pecan, as a response to mineral and organic nutrition

• Published in: Notulae botanicae Horti agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 342 - 353
• Main Authors: NOPERI-MOSQUEDA, Linda C., SOTO-PARRA, Juan M., SÁNCHEZ, Esteban, NAVARRO-LEÓN, Eloy, PÉREZ-LEAL, Ramona, FLORES-CÓRDOVA, María A., SALAS-SALAZAR, Nora A., YÁÑEZ-MUÑOZ, Rosa M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cluj-Napoca Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 01-01-2020; AcademicPres
• Subjects: alternate bearing intensity; alternate bearing intensity; Carya illinoienensis; edible nut percentage; long-term yield index; nuts per kilogram; Bearing; Calcium; Carya illinoienensis; Cultivation; Decomposing organic matter; edible nut percentage; Edible nuts; Environmental impact; Fertilization; Humus; Hydroxyapatite; Impact analysis; Mineral fertilizers; Nitrogen; Nutrition; Nuts; nuts per kilogram; Organic fertilizers; Pecan nuts; Phosphorus pentoxide
• ISSN: 0255-965X; 1842-4309
• DOI: 10.15835/nbha48111725

The pecan nut is produced in 57 countries in the world. Alternate bearing is one of the main biological problems that affect pecan cultivation. Mineral and organic fertilization is a good strategy to maintain and increase pecan nut production. In this study, several mineral and organic doses of fertilization were tested using a factorial arrangement 56 bounded to 25 treatments was used in structure Taguchi L25: nitrogen (N) 0 - 240 kg ha-1, phosphate (P2O5) 0 - 120 kg ha-1, potassium (K2O) 0 - 100 kg ha-1, calcium (CaO) 0 - 400 kg ha-1, liquid humus 0 - 3600 L ha-1 and solid humus 0 - 8000 kg ha-1. The study was carried out in Aldama city, Chihuahua (Mexico). An average yield of 2.4 t ha-1 was obtained, 157 nuts per kilogram and 58.9% of edible nut. The average alternate bearing intensity was 31.58%, and the long-term yield index (IRLP) was 9.59%. It is concluded that the factors whit the greatest impact on the analyzed variables were N and P2O5. In addition, it was found these mineral and organic fertilization systems help to reduce alternate bearing in pecan and simultaneously improve production and long-term productivity index. Optimal fertilization doses were defined: 181.4 kg ha-1 of N, 93.5 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 3287.2 L ha-1 of liquid humus. Finally, the mineral fertilization complemented with organic fertilization is considered a good fertilization strategy for pecan trees, to increase production and with lower environmental impact.