A Detailed Guide to Walnut Cultivation History and Production Area Distribution
The Origin of the Walnut
The walnut is a large deciduous tree native to the ancient Persia (present-day Iran) region in the heart of Asia. In recent years, archaeologists discovered carbonized walnuts among the artifacts unearthed at a primitive society site (Neolithic Age) in Cishan Village, Wu'an, Hebei, and also found abundant walnut and hickory pollen in the lacustrine sediments of Nyainqentanglha in Tibet, proving that China is one of the native centers of the walnut in the world.
Pictured: Walnut
Regarding walnut cultivation, Zhang Hua of the Jin Dynasty recorded in the «Bowuzhi»: "This fruit comes from the Qiang and Hu regions. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions and first obtained the seeds and brought them back, planting them in Qinzhong, and they gradually spread to the Central Plains." This was a matter of the year 122 BC, proving that walnut cultivation in China has a long history. China is very rich in walnut germplasm resources across the north and south. According to the «Chinese Fruit Tree Records · Walnut Volume», there are 216 clonal varieties and superior varieties, 164 improved farm seedling varieties, and 486 superior strains. The most famous include Yunnan's Dapao Walnut (also known as Yangbi Walnut), Shanxi's Fenzhou Walnut, Hebei's Shimen Walnut, Sichuan's Luren Walnut, Xinjiang's Paper-shell Walnut, the "Eggshell" Walnut from the Qinling area of Shaanxi, and Lin'an Hickory, all of which are walnut resources unique to China.
The Distribution Range of Walnuts
The worldwide distribution of walnuts is mainly concentrated in Europe, Asia, and North America. In Europe, France, Italy, and Romania cultivate the most; in Asia, China and Turkey cultivate the most; in the Americas, the United States leads, concentrated in the southwestern state of California. Among the more than 30 walnut-producing countries worldwide, China, the United States, and Turkey rank at the top in production. The total walnut area in the United States is about 100,000 hectares, of which the bearing tree area is about 80,000-plus hectares, with an annual output of about 220,000 tons. Turkey currently has more than 3 million bearing trees, with the highest production reaching 150,000 tons.
China has a long history of walnut cultivation and a very wide distribution range. Currently, large areas of wild walnut forests still exist in the mountainous areas around Gongliu and Huocheng in Xinjiang. Walnuts are planted in all provinces and autonomous regions of North China, Northwest China, and Southwest China. The main producing areas are Shanxi, Hebei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Liaoning, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shandong, Xinjiang, and other provinces and autonomous regions. According to research by most experts, China's walnuts are mainly concentrated in the following three regions:
Northwest Region: including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and other provinces and autonomous regions;
North China Region: including Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Beijing, and other provinces and municipalities;
Southwest Region: including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, and other provinces and autonomous regions.
With the adjustment of the agricultural and forestry planting structure, walnut cultivation in China has gradually become relatively concentrated, forming regional advantages. These areas have large cultivation areas, high yields, and superior quality. Places such as Fenyang, Xiaoyi, and Zuoquan in Shanxi; Tai'an in Shandong; Changli and Shexian in Hebei; Shangluo in Shaanxi; Minhe in Qinghai; Wuwei and Longnan in Gansu; Bijie in Guizhou; Yangbi in Yunnan; and the surroundings of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang are all renowned walnut-producing areas in China. After the 1970s, production in the main walnut-producing areas rose rapidly. Of the national total production of nearly 500,000 tons in 2006, Yunnan accounted for about 1/5, with Sichuan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi following closely behind, ranking at the forefront nationwide in production.
China's total walnut production ranks first in the world, with excellent quality. Exported walnuts and walnut kernels have great influence in the international market. Shanxi's Fenzhou Walnut and Hebei's Shimen Walnut are both famous local improved varieties.