May 3, 2024Acadian Plant Health releases results of almond water use study
Acadian Plant Health released expanded results of its multi-year California almond water use study, demonstrating how biostimulant technologies can help growers reduce water use and plant stress while maintaining yield.
Almonds are California’s top export crop and one the state’s top three crops by value, according to the Acadian Plant Health press release. As water reduction programs look to lower the local almond industry’s water use by 20% from 2020 to 2025, alongside continued chronic water shortages, it is important to arm growers with effective tools that reduce water stress and maintain plant productivity. Particularly, as the state looks to significantly reduce its water use, biostimulant technologies are relevant for almond growers now more than ever.
Beginning in May 2021, Guilia Marino, PhD and cooperative Extension orchard systems specialist at UC Davis, and her team at the 350-acre Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center — the University of California’s largest off-campus agricultural research facility — applied treatments of Acadian Organic to selected almond trees.
Weekly assessments of midday stem water potential have shown consistently improved stem water potential and kernel weight in regular and deficit irrigation situations.
“The results are promising,” said Holly Little, director, research and development, Acadian Plant Health. “We are seeing that using Acadian biostimulants to improve stem water potential can lower the frequency or volume of irrigation needed for healthy almond trees while protecting yields.”
“As environmental and regulatory water restrictions challenge global agriculture, adopting multidisciplinary and holistic water management will be key to sustaining future orchard systems,” Dr. Marino said. The press release also detailed the biostimulant technology had a positive effect on almonds and may reduce tree stress.
Acadian Plant Health is a biostimulant company with a core focus on sustainable, science-based biological solutions for specialty and broad-acre crops. For more information, visit acadianplanthealth.com.
