What was it all about?

This project showed that almond yields and water use efficiency can be significantly improved by better matching irrigation and nutrition to the tree’s daily needs. Field trials in South Australia demonstrated that applying water and nutrients in small, regular amounts, timed to key growth stages, supported stronger root systems, healthier canopies and much higher kernel yields than standard commercial practice. Some treatments achieved more than three times the yield of the commercial control, while maintaining kernel quality.

The project tested an “optimisation” approach to almond growing that brings irrigation, nutrition and canopy management together. Almond trees were supplied with water and nutrients based on their consumptive use, using drip irrigation applied in daily pulses. Different irrigation and nutrition levels were compared with existing best commercial practice. Soil moisture, root growth, tree growth, yield and kernel quality were monitored over multiple seasons to understand how trees responded to these management changes.

The research addressed key challenges facing the expanding Australian almond industry, including limited water availability, rising input costs and the need to remain internationally competitive. Traditional irrigation scheduling can result in uneven soil moisture, inefficient water use and restricted root development. This project explored whether more precise and consistent delivery of water and nutrients could overcome these limits.

The outcomes of this work will help growers improve productivity and resource efficiency. The findings indicate that well-managed drip irrigation, combined with targeted nutrition, can lift yields, improve kernel quality and reduce water losses below the root zone. Over time, this approach is expected to support more consistent production, better use of water and fertiliser, and improved profitability and sustainability for almond orchards.