Dream team session

Alwyn du Preez

◦ Deep well drained soil

◦ 20-35% clay with water holding capacity

Is organic matter content important?

◦ It is a benefit, but not compulsory

◦ 1000-1200mm per year

◦ 150 -200mm per month starting Nov to March (nutset-maturity)

◦ 20-50mm per week

Would you utilise irrigation? ◦ Yes, especially if it is dry during the flowering

period.

◦ At least 100 Ha

◦ One Manager can manage 100 ha in SA.

Would it be staged plantings or all in one planting?

◦ All in one, if the weather allows it.

◦ High kernel recovery cultivars

◦ 816, A4

◦ Cross pollinator cultivar

◦ 741, Daddow, Beaumont?

Would you use pollinators? ◦ Yes

◦ 2-3 bee hive per Ha depending on cost for bees

◦ 8m X 4m

What row configuration would you plant? (east/west or north/south or on the contour?)

◦ North / South for optimum light interception

What is the maximum length per row? ◦ No Limit, the longer the easier to spray if it is flat.

◦ Cross roads every 500m.

◦ Yes, rip soil before planting commenced

Would you mound the rows? ◦ Only if the soil is shallow and drainage is a

problem

(planting shade tolerant grasses?) ◦ No need in SA with labour harvesting

Year 5 production target = (tonnes of SK/ha)

◦ 400Kg – 600Kg

Year 10 production target = (tonnes of SK/ha)

◦ 1600kg – 2000kg

Year 20 production target = (tonnes of SK/ha)

◦ 1600kg - 2000kg

◦ Start to train trees in year 1

◦ Encourage central leader and side branches

◦ 816 needs to be pruned to start bearing earlier, they do not tend to make side branches

◦ Limb removal starts from year 5 annually

◦ Pruning program must start early winter.

What method would you use? ◦ Limb removal

◦ Cut the rows open

◦ Maintain regrowth removal and management

◦ Tree height maximum 7 meters for effective spray coverage.

◦ Plant early flowering and late flowering cultivars separately.

◦ Filling points for spray machine must be close and accessible.

◦ Harvest weekly

◦ Harvest crop a.s.a.p. when mature and dry/ cure properly for optimum quality.

◦ Build proper curing facilities to accommodate the maximum crop volume at any given time.

◦ Build a sufficient storage facility.

◦ Resorting facilities for NIS between curing and storing bin.

◦ Rule 1: Never allow harvesting or pruning to take up valuable hunting and fishing time!