Pistachio in Spain, varieties and care

The pistachio is one of the crops that most uses plantae technology, which is why we are going to dedicate this article to the pistachio trees. At Plantae we are dedicated to the design, development and marketing of wireless sensor technology for saving water, improving production and crop quality.

Plantae does not sell plants or advise on the variety or type of pistachio to be planted in your area or region. However, we are going to detail information on the pistachio in Spain, its varieties and its need for irrigation control with sensors.

Ideal pistachio areas in Spain

Pistachio cultivation in Spain depends on several factors, which is why not the entire peninsula is suitable.

• A minimum number of cold hours , 1150 that influence the winter rest, its subsequent flowering and fertilization and that the production is of a late cycle. If the number of hours is less, the production is early cycle.
• A average temperature in the southern half favors the pistachio, being higher in the months of April, May, June, July, August and September. This makes the production and maturation take place in a homogeneous way.
• Beware of late frosts in the months of March, April and May. If we have temperatures below -1.5 degrees, the flower spoils and production is lost. In the maps we can see which areas are more favorable for the production of pistachio in Spain.
• humidity influences the appearance of fungi and other diseases that affect the tree, therefore it is not advisable to plant in coastal areas.

The following map includes all the options and gives us the ideal areas for pistachio cultivation in Spain.

Plantae AGRO

Orientative maps of the ideal areas for pistachio in Spain according to several factors:

Late frosts

Cold days

Hot days

Relative humidity

Data from the book “ the pistachio cultivation” by José Couceiro and other authors from the El Chaparrillo Center, with which Plantae collaborated and tested its humidity sensor technology in 2017.

However, that does not imply that in other unsuitable areas there are no pistachios, as is the case in Lleida. Studies are also being carried out in other communities with conditioned adaptation given the high market demand for this product.

It is also convenient to take into account the type of soil as we can see in the following graphs.

Ideal land for pistachio in Spain

Depending on the climate and the area, we must choose where to plant. The best plantation options for pistachio in Spain are:

1. Nursery grafted plant, with Kerman and Kastel varieties, very good for frosty areas. In less cold areas they are good varieties such as Larnaka , Avdat , Mateur , and Aegina .
2. Graft holder + posterior graft. The most favorable rootstock varieties in Spain are cornicabra, ucb1 and atlántica.

How is the pistachio planted?

When our plants arrive, we must treat them with great care:

• They come from the nursery on pallets, we remove them and leave the pots grouped vertically on the ground. They are watered every two days with water if it is not very cold. In case of intense cold it is better not to water to avoid freezing.
• Keep them in a medium dark and ventilated place, but protected from the intense cold.
• When we are going to plant them we must check that the humidity of the soil is optimal so that it does not disintegrate from the plant. In this way the root is protected.
• The extraction must be done carefully so as not to damage the root ball.
• At the time of planting, a contribution of rooting and humus is important to stimulate the grip of the plant.
• It is important to water at the time of planting, especially if the land is irrigated.
• Finally, place the protective tube and the tutor that needs at least five years to stay upright.

As it is an anemophilic plant, pollination with the wind, they will be planted six or seven meters apart from each other (planting frames 6 × 6 or 7 × 6), alternating females (2 or 3) and a male, taking into account whether the plantation is affected by the north wind. We will put more male pistachios in that area, also around the edges.

Pistachio care

Once we have the plant growing we will not have fruit in about 5 or 6 years. During this time it only needs nutrients, irrigation and pruning >. Then we will approach the full harvest around the tenth year according to variety and type of irrigation / rainfed.

It is a plant that needs heat in summer, but it benefits from controlled irrigation , without waterlogging, that is why plantations are interested in humidity sensors to control irrigation.

As for pruning, we have several growth cycles of the tree until it bears fruit.

• The pistachio in Spain is usually planted between November and January. The following year all the lateral branches are cut in February, leaving three of us to choose untouched.
• During the second year, the entire lower part is pruned in June about 80 cm from the ground.
• In the third year we will do the pruning in February, cutting the branches that are in the crown except for the three chosen ones and their branches, up to 12.
• In the fourth and last year of pruning, the main and secondary ones continue to be maintained. We must already have 24 terminals.

Now to wait for the fruits and the harvest to arrive.

Pistachio Nutrients

One of the best ways to fertilize the pistachio is to leave the stubble and crushed pruning remains as a cover. While providing nutrients, they serve to store moisture.

Also remove the earth around the trees a couple of times a year at least, in order to oxygenate it and bury the undergrowth.

You also need minerals like:

• Nitrogen: provides development to the tree. Its deficiency produces small trees and deformed leaves.
• Phosphorus: to promote flowering and fruit setting.
• Potassium: which influences the transport of sugars. Benefits the formation of the fruit.
• Calcium: promotes root development and improves nutrient absorption.

Post-harvest process

Once we see that the fruit is ripe, it is harvested with machines or by hand.

It is transferred to the processing plant and the pistachio must be treated within 24 hours, otherwise it runs the risk of catching mold, staining the shell and losing all quality.

The phases of the process:

Sources:

Plantae

«El cultivo del pistacho» de José Couceiro