Hazelnut cultivation becomes a new path to prosperity for fruit growers in Heishan County

Since this spring, Lijia Town in Heishan County, taking into account the local area's mature experience in planting hazelnuts, has guided farmers to break away from fixed ways of thinking and vigorously develop the economic forest industry by planting hazelnut trees, setting farmers on a new path to increased income and prosperity.

At the hazelnut tree planting site in Guangsheng Village, Lijia Town, farmers, working in groups, are busy digging holes, setting out the plants and filling in soil, while technicians from the county forestry department also provide on-site guidance and follow-up services for the hazelnut tree planting work, ensuring that farmers plant and manage the hazelnut trees scientifically.

According to the contractor of this plot, this year he plans to plant this 50 mu of land entirely with Ping'ou large-fruited hazelnuts, planting 110 hazelnut trees per mu. After planting is completed, the trunks will be headed back at a height of 40 to 60 cm; immediately after heading back, the trees will be given a thorough watering, and the soil will be mounded up to preserve moisture, ensuring the survival rate of the saplings. In the first three years, low-growing crops can also be planted between the trees, and profits can also be made by propagating seedlings under the trees. After three years, the hazelnut trees enter the initial fruiting stage, and crops can no longer be planted between the trees; at this point the yield of hazelnuts is about 100 jin per mu. In 5 years the hazelnut trees enter the full fruiting stage, with a yield of about 500 jin per mu. Ping'ou large-fruited hazelnuts have thin shells, large kernels, good taste and high yields, and are deeply welcomed by consumers. The economic benefit per mu of large hazelnut trees is about 10 times the economic benefit of field crops.

After more than 10 years of research and breeding, the Ping'ou Large-Fruited Hazelnut Research Institute of Lijia Town has already gained mature experience in hazelnut planting techniques. For this reason, Lijia Town, in conjunction with the provincial 10-million-mu economic forest industry belt project and the town's actual conditions, guides farmers to develop the large hazelnut planting industry, providing nanny-style services in every link from seedling selection and planting to scientific management, promoting increased income and prosperity for farmers.