By Clint Thompson
One of the most significant investments a pecan producer can make with their crop is with irrigation. If a grower cannot water their trees regularly, especially during times of the season when the trees need it the most, they will not be able to capitalize with high yields.
It is a message that Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, highlighted during the UGA Pecan School on March 20 in Perry, Georgia.
“Irrigation will do more for pecan production than pretty much anything else, as far as just the instant results that you get from it,” Wells said. “Yeah, we get rainfall here in the Southeast, and that normally accounts for about half of what we need. But it only accounts for half. To have consistent production, you’ve got to be able to control that water and give it to the tree when it needs it.”
Wells discussed research that focused on the Stuart variety. Zero irrigation applications led to 1,034 pounds per acre. Applications of 1,200 gallons per day, per acre, netted 1,374 pounds, a 32% increase. Applications of 3,600 gallons per day, per acre, netted 1,761 pounds, a 70% increase.
New producers should also be cautious about when to apply the water. The most critical time is during the summer when temperatures have increased and rainfall is not always a guarantee.
“A lot of the time, the most critical time for water is nut sizing and kernel filling. Nut sizing is from June to July, and kernel filling is August and September. Those are often the months that we turn dry and hot like last year,” Wells said. “We need to be able to give those trees water when they need it the most. If you can’t do that, you’re wasting your time with all of the other stuff.”