Getting More From Macadamia Nut Farms

By Mia McCall


Though originally found in the Australian sub continents, the macadamia nut has grown to a viable cash crop in many parts of the world. Commercial macadamia nut farms are said to have been initially set up in Hawaii. Australians only began cultivating it commercially in the 1960s, during which time the crop was being spread across North America.

The productivity of this crop is determined by the prevailing climatic conditions in the zones of cultivation. For instance, the flowering season is signified by a drop in night temperatures to below 19 degrees Celsius. Areas that experience harsh winters and frost are characterized by early tree deaths and loss of blossoms and leaves in older trees.

The macadamia tree is an evergreen hardwood that is resilient enough to thrive in the midst of stiff competition. The soil should be of a fine texture with good aeration and drainage to promote the establishment of a good root network to support vigorous plant growth. In areas prone to strong wind gusts, experts recommend planting windbreak trees to cushion young plants from adverse gales.

The nut trees can grow to around ten feet in height with a very wide branch canopy. To avoid space contention issues with other activities, the holes must be made in grid formation at 30 meter intervals across the farm. Many people may lack the means to sample and test their soils in the recommended manner but an auger hole dug to the hardpan level may be filled with water to note the time it takes for it to drain off.

Also to be considered is the presence of stones and the topography because of their impact on the harvesting machinery. While initially identifying the orchard site, it may be necessary to consult landscaping experts. A layman may choose a site that has negative impacts on rights of immediate neighbors or is inaccessible by farm machinery.

Designing your rows to run from north to south will ensure that plants will get maximum sunshine at some point during the day. The best crop to grow is one that will ensure increased production throughout its productive life. Consult known farmers and agriculturalists but treat all information with caution as some people may propagate unsubstantiated opinions.

Some processors also have restrictions on the varieties of nuts they are willing to process in their factories. Varieties should be blended during planting to encourage cross pollination as it improves kernel quality and the count of nuts. During harvesting, strive to sort out the various nut species to avoid contention with the processors.

Windbreaks may protect the trees in the first four years but become a nuisance later on. They may frustrate farmers pest control efforts by harboring destructive rodents. If their growth is not checked, they reduce production in macadamia nut farms by competing for growth resources with the main crop. It may also become tricky when you want to get rid of them after your crop is fully established.




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