Californian pistachio study tour, November 2005 (PS05001)

This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

University of California Cooperative Extension had run a Pistachio short course every five years since 1990. It was an excellent opportunity to keep abreast of current production techniques, and meet with growers, processors, researchers and extension staff. California was the second largest producer of pistachios in the world, and our Australian industry had been modeled on Californian practice.

The 2005 three day course covered all aspects of Pistachio production, from the economics of setting up an orchard, growing the crop, through to processing and marketing. The structure consisted of formal lectures followed by questions and discussion, and a field trip with speakers on various aspects of orchard management.

Lecture topics were as follows:

1. Economic considerations of Pistachio production
2. Costs and returns
3. Botany and physiological factors affecting yield
4. Site evaluation and soil modification
5. Planning and designing the orchard
6. Pistachio cultivars
7. Pistachio rootstocks
8. Rootstock production and budding
9. Planting and training
10. Weed management
11. Pruning mature bearing trees
12. Tree water requirements and RDI
13. Improving water penetration
14. Managing salinity, soil and water amendments
15. Diagnosing and correcting nutrient deficiencies
16. Fertigation
17. Harvesting, transport and processing
18. Orchard rehabilitation
19. Pest, disease and physiological disorders management
20. Integrated Pest Management

Some orchards were also visited following the short course.