The Latest Guide to High-Efficiency Cultivation Techniques for Pecan

Pecan, also known as the thin-shelled pecan or long pecan, is a deciduous tree of the genus Carya in the family Juglandaceae. In the dried fruit market, pecan nuts are called "bigen nuts" or "longevity nuts." In recent years they have sold well in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai regions, and there is a trend of expansion toward the north. Pecan can not only produce delicious, nutritious nuts, but also produce superior timber, and can additionally be used as a street tree for landscaping and beautification. It is an excellent tree species with high comprehensive value.

Pecan is native to North America. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, China introduced a small number of trees from the United States. At present, successful introduction and cultivation of pecan have been reported across a vast area from the Great Wall line in the north to Yunnan and Jiangxi in the south, and many regions have already obtained good economic and ecological benefits.

Practical Value

1. Nuts and shells

Pecan is one of the world's famous high-quality dried nuts, deeply loved by consumers in the United States and European countries. Its nuts are large, with thin shells and a high kernel yield (50%-70%); the kernels are easy to extract, and yields are high (1500-2250 kg/hectare, equivalent to 100-150 kg/mu). The kernels are bright in color and fragrant in taste, with no astringency, and are rich in nutrients (containing 72% oil, 11% protein and 13% carbohydrates). They have a high amino acid content and are rich in vitamins B1 and B2. The nut oil contains 73% monounsaturated fatty acids, with a calorific value of 32 kcal/kg; eating it can reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease, making it an ideal health product and food additive. Nuts sell for 6-7 USD/kg in the United States and about 80 yuan/kg in China. After crushing, the shells are a high-grade polishing material, selling at a price comparable to that of the kernels.

2. Timber

Pecan is one of the three major high-quality hard broadleaf timber tree species, alongside American black walnut and black cherry. Its wood has a fine structure, high mechanical strength, and attractive grain and color, giving it a wide range of uses. It is especially suitable for making high-grade furniture and plywood veneer, as well as tool handles, pianos, gym equipment, sporting goods and interior decoration. In the United States, pecan wood furniture and handicrafts have always been a symbol of elegance and wealth.

3. Landscaping and beautification

The pecan tree is tall and straight with a beautiful form, and its life cycle lasts 80-100 years. During the fruiting period, the fruits and leaves set each other off beautifully, making it an excellent tree species for courtyard beautification and urban landscaping. On many farms, estates, parks, schools and churches in the United States, the graceful figure of the pecan can be seen. In China, along Taiping North Road in Nanjing there is a continuous stretch of pecan street trees about 80 years old, with excellent landscaping and beautification effects, deeply loved by residents.

Variety Classification and Selection

1. Classification

According to climate and geographical location, pecans are divided into eastern, western and northern varieties. Eastern varieties are suited to hot, humid climates and have strong disease resistance; western varieties are suited to relatively dry climatic conditions, are salt-alkali tolerant, and have weak disease resistance; northern varieties are suited to climates with a short growing season, have strong cold and drought resistance, and good kernel flavor. In China, they are roughly divided into southern varieties and northern varieties. Southern varieties tolerate high temperatures and humidity but not cold, and are suitable for cultivation in the Jiangnan region, such as Moneymaker; northern varieties are cold and drought tolerant, and are suitable not only for cultivation in the region between the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, but also for cultivation in the Jiangnan region, such as Pawnee.

2. Traits

Pecan nuts come in many shapes, including round, oval, ovate and obovate, with oval being the most common. Fruit sizes vary: large-fruited types have about 60 nuts/kg, while small-fruited types have 140-600 nuts/kg.

3. Selection

In the south, either southern-type or northern-type varieties may be chosen, with the main consideration being disease resistance; in the north, northern-type varieties must be chosen, with the main considerations being cold and drought resistance and the requirement for a frost-free period.

Cultivation Environment

1. Climatic conditions

Pecan is generally distributed in regions between 26 and 42 degrees north latitude, with the main commercial cultivation areas located within the range of 28-36 degrees north latitude. The frost-free period in its natural distribution area is 140-280 days; in the main production areas the frost-free period is mostly more than 220 days, the annual accumulated temperature of ≥10℃ is 3300℃-5400℃, and the minimum accumulated temperature requirement for coldness is 500℃. Annual precipitation in the southeastern part of the distribution area is 1000-1600 mm, and 500-800 mm in the western and northern regions.

Pecan is best suited to an environment with an average annual temperature of 15℃-20℃. Northern varieties can withstand low temperatures of minus 29℃, while southern varieties can only withstand minus 18℃; the extreme high temperature they can tolerate is 46.5℃. It has been reported that most areas south of the Great Wall and stretching from east to west across China are suitable for planting pecan. In addition, pecans planted in the north have better nut flavor and timber than those in the south. At the same time, northern varieties can grow better in the south, with larger fruits and fuller kernels.

2. Soil conditions

Pecan prefers sandy loam or loam with deep soil, loose texture, rich humus, moisture and good drainage, and does not adapt to overly heavy acidic soil. Pecan is not strict about soil pH and can grow well within a pH range of 5.8-8.