The document discusses recommendations for establishing a macadamia orchard in Australia over a 20 year period. It recommends selecting a site with free draining soil that gets 1,500-2,000mm of annual rainfall to avoid irrigation. The plan is to plant trees at a spacing of 8m x 4m (312 trees/ha) and establish pollinators. Production targets of 0.5t/ha in year 5, 1.5t/ha in year 10, and 2t/ha in year 20 are set. A phased approach to canopy management and tree removal is outlined to achieve the final 14m x 8m spacing by year 20.
2. Free draining – Red kraznozen
Not too sandy and not too heavy clay
Organic mater important
Gently undulating
3. Rainfall of 1,500 – 2,000mm per year
Avoid irrigation – expensive and high
maintenance
Dry rainfall period during flowering
Rainfall
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
4. dependant on cash flow
◦ 8m x 4m spacing = 312 trees/ha
◦ $15/tree = $4,680.00/ha
◦ 312 trees/ha over 100ha = 31,200 trees
5. New Australian Breeding Program
Variety with -
◦ High kernel yielding variety
◦ Husk spot tolerant
◦ Open canopy
◦ Precocious
◦ Heat and cold tolerant
◦ Short drop period
Pollinators would be planted
◦ Compatibility with new varieties
◦ (508)
6. North South where possible
East/west if rows can be longer= more efficient
Planted at –
◦ 7m x 4m to maximise early yield
◦ Year 12-14 move to 7m x 8m with 50% tree removal
◦ hedge every second row then remove that hedged row
(phased row removal)
◦ Final spacing at year 20 = 14m x 8m
Maximum length per row = 1km
◦ Consistent harvesting
7. V drains and waterways established
Rows would be mounded prior to planting
Ground covers established
◦ Not specifically sweet smother
minimal herbicide use
8. Year 5 production target = 0.5t of SK/ha
Year 10 production target = 1.5t of SK/ha
Year 20 production target = 2t of SK/ha
Year trees per ha t SK/ha KR % t NIS/ha kgs/tree
5 357 0.5 40% 1.25 / ha 3.5
10 357 1.5 40% 3.75 / ha 10.5
20 89 2.0 40% 5.00 /ha 56
9. Year Canopy Management
1-3 Pruning for density
4-8 Mechanical skirt where
necessary f ff
f
l ll
9- Selective limb removal
l
u ut tt
u t
u t tt
t
12 to phase out trees s ss rr
s r
r
hh e
h e
e
r
e
rr
e
r
e
h e e
ee e
e e ee
e
a aa
a
13- 25% tree removal n nr rr
n r
n
dd o
o o
d o
r rr
oo
r
o
14 - every second tree in
d o
www
w www
w
every second row c cc
c
a aa
a
nn n
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15- 50% tree removal oo o
o
16 - Every second tree in
pp p
p
y yy
y
every row
17- Hedge every 2nd row
20 with view of removing
that hedged row
20 Remove every second
row
Year 12 13-14 17-20 20
YearYear Year Year
15-16
10. Encourage open canopy trees
Plant pest tolerant varieties
Plant trap crops
11. Large holding of one size of land is better
than many of smaller parcels of land
Fewer neighbours the better
Focus on the long term returns
Focus on sustainability
