How to Grow Pistachios: Cultivation Techniques, Conditions and Profit Analysis

Pistachios are relatively small in appearance, with a white shell, a green skin layer over the kernel, and a white kernel inside; they also taste very good, which is why consumers like them so much. Nowadays many people want to grow pistachios to increase their economic returns, so before planting, what everyone is surely most concerned about is the cultivation techniques, right!

Cultivation techniques for pistachios

1. Propagation of seedlings: Pistachios can be propagated by sowing seeds, grafting, division, layering and root-sucker division.

2. Site selection and orchard establishment: Although pistachios are tolerant of poor soil, drought and cold and are extremely adaptable, for production it is best to choose plots of loam and sandy loam with deep soil layers and good aeration. Because pistachios are highly susceptible to late frost damage, care should be taken to choose the middle of hillsides, open flat land, valley land and south-facing slopes that are sheltered from wind and face the sun for orchard establishment, and orchards should not be established on the windward side of the prevailing wind direction.

3. Planting of seedlings: For pistachio planting, a row spacing of 3 m × 4 m or 4 m × 5 m is suitable, with 33-55 plants per mu; in densely planted orchards, 83-111 plants per mu can be planted. Both finished seedlings and bud seedlings can be used for planting. Before planting, dig planting holes 60 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter; when planting, keep the roots level with the ground, firm the soil while planting, then irrigate thoroughly.

Pistachio growing conditions and profit analysis

I. Growing conditions:

1. Soil: The pistachio tree is highly adaptable to soil and can grow in almost all soil types, especially preferring deep, thick, light or dry calcareous sandy loam and yellow loam. It can also grow in clay loam, gravelly soil, shallow chestnut soil, light loam and mildly salinized soil, with a pH of 7.7-8.0. It can also grow and bear fruit on gravelly barren mountain land and semi-desert land. Its growth requires trace elements such as potassium and iron. The fruit is not tolerant of saline-alkali conditions, and it cannot grow in places that are too damp and shaded or where water accumulates.

2. Water: In suitable growing areas for pistachio trees, the annual precipitation is generally in the range of 200-400 mm, where they grow well and bear abundant fruit. In areas with annual precipitation below 80 mm, they can also grow, flower and bear fruit tenaciously, but a lack of water during the sensitive water-demand period in summer will result in no harvest of fruit at all.

3. Temperature: Pistachios are highly adaptable to temperature. In Shufu County, Xinjiang, they can withstand extreme high temperatures of 42°C and low temperatures of -26°C. In Sicily, where the summer temperature is 23°C, the average temperature is 7.8°C, and a low temperature of -3°C causes no damage to the tree. In the United States, they can endure a low temperature of -14.5°C, while in Iran, from -9.5°C to 42°C. In some areas of the former Soviet Union, they can endure temperatures of -17°C. Iran is the most suitable growing place for pistachios; over 7 years, the average January temperature variance was -15°C, with an average temperature of 7.2°C.

II. Profit analysis:

The people of our country enjoy eating pistachios, and about 20,000 tons are imported each year, accounting for about 1/5 of the world's total production. The import price is as high as 6,000 US dollars per ton, and the retail price on our market is as high as about 60 yuan per kilogram, giving very attractive development prospects.

How to fertilize and water pistachios

1. Fertilization: Young trees are given base fertilizer once a year, about 20 kg per tree. Bearing trees are fertilized once every 2-3 years. Fertilization during the year is generally divided into 3 applications: the first should preferably be in early spring or autumn and winter, mainly with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer; the second during the fruit enlargement period, mainly with nitrogen and potassium fertilizers; and the third after fruit harvest, mainly with organic fertilizers such as compost and barnyard manure, usually applied in combination with deep plowing in autumn.

2. Irrigation: Winter irrigation before the onset of winter gives better results.

Common pests and diseases of pistachios and their control

1. Root rot. Strengthen orchard management and increase the application of organic fertilizer so that the pistachio trees grow robustly, thereby enhancing disease resistance. For diseased trees and surrounding plants that may be infected, drench the roots with a 300-fold copper sulfate solution.

2. Brown scale insect (brown helmet wax scale). Before adults lay eggs, manually wipe the female insect scales off the branches with a cloth. Before pistachios sprout, spray with lime sulfur mixture.

When planting pistachios, you must do a good job of site selection, and the temperature and moisture conditions all need to be met. Then timely fertilization and watering are also key to ensuring their growth. Only by doing these aspects well can pistachios grow healthily.