Knockrow Macadamias

Prepared by: Graeme Fleming

Title….Grower Success Story 1

Date….October 2014

Background and Orchard Outline

• Location - Knockrow

• Orchard Size - 35.2 Ha (11,000 mature trees)

• Tree spacing - 8m x 4m (contour)

• Varieties - 344, 333, 741, 246, 800

• Soil Type - Red krasnozem

Variety of slope and aspect make management a challenge

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Block Records

Block records indicated huge variability across the farm

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Tonnes/ha Block 1

Block 2

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Areas identified with yield problems

• Issues to address –

– Bare soil, root exposure

– Drainage

– Some tree decline,

– diminished grass cover,

– Canopy closing in,

– rat damage,

– insect control

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Bare soil and root exposure

Tree decline

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Improving soil and tree health

• Tree roots covered using soil profiler

• Drainage corrected where necessary

• Use of blowers eliminated or reduced

• Compost made on farm and used in areas of poor soil causing tree decline

• Weed spraying significantly reduced

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Vastly improved soil health, significant increase in feeder roots

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Closing canopy – lack off Grass cover

• Limb removal benefits

– Increased light for ground cover growth

– Increased organic matter in orchard

– Horizontal/cascading branch structure

– Reduced insect damage (open canopies, instead of dark canopies)

– Used in conjunction with hedging (early summer)

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This area previously suffered from die back and had no grass cover – production was low

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Rat control

• Gully vegetation management and regeneration

Changes over time 2006

2014

2009

2012

2013

Production from 5 blocks 2005-2014

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Key Outcomes

Key Outcomes;

• Open Canopies

– Increased productive canopy

• (crop spread through canopy rather than top mushroom)

– Increased yield (horizontal branching)

– Reduced insect damage

– Increased light onto ground

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Key Outcomes

Key Outcomes;• Reduced Erosion

– Increased ground covers – Organic matter capturing soil water– Drainage preventing excess water entering orchard

• Improved soil health • Increased root volume • Machinery access easier (after rain)

– More air movement through the orchard (dries out after rain event)

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Summary

• Block Measurement

– Measuring enabled management

• Targeted key areas of orchard

• Integrated orchard management