2020 Hazelnut Planting Prospects and Cultivation Techniques Explained

Hazelnut is a relatively common nut, a nutrient-rich and valuable dried fruit that is welcomed by the market. So how is hazelnut planting in 2020? What are the cultivation techniques? Let's take a look below.

1. How is hazelnut planting in 2020?

The nutritional value of hazelnuts is very high. They contain oil, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, sugar fiber and special components such as the antioxidant carbolic acid, as well as the eight amino acids and trace elements needed by humans. At the same time, cultivated hazelnuts have a fragrant taste and excellent shape and color, and their economic characteristics far exceed those of wild hazelnuts, giving them extraordinary market competitiveness. In addition, they are a food resource that combines health care and nutrition.

In 2019, the market price of hazelnuts was about 25-30 yuan per jin. Prices vary somewhat depending on origin and variety. For example, oval hazelnuts from Heilongjiang are 25-35 yuan per jin, and flat hazelnuts from Liaoning are 30-35 yuan per jin. The selling price is relatively expensive. At present, the market for hazelnut fruit is almost very small and is in an early stage of development, with relatively broad planting prospects.

2. Hazelnut Cultivation Techniques

1. Planting density

To achieve the goal of high yield in hazelnut trees, the planting density of hazelnut trees should be reasonable. A reasonable choice of hazelnut planting density is closely related to many factors such as species, variety, rootstock, cultivation techniques, tree form used, terrain, soil and climatic conditions. Therefore, when choosing the planting density of hazelnut trees, many factors should be considered so that the hazelnut trees can grow robustly.

2. Planting density

In places with fertile soil and flat terrain, the planting distance of hazelnut trees should be larger. In addition, in mountain hazelnut orchards with steeper slopes and poor soil, the planting row spacing can be smaller. For varieties with vigorous growth and open crowns, the planting spacing between rows and plants should be larger. For varieties with weak growth and upright, compact crowns, the planting spacing between rows and plants can be smaller. According to different cultivation purposes, the planting density should also differ. Some may adopt planned close planting for early high yield, and after early close planting, thinning can be carried out when the orchard becomes crowded.

3. Planting depth

For planting depth, the root system should not be buried too deep or too shallow. After planting, the root collar is required to be at ground level or slightly lower than the ground by 5 cm. The soil depth above the root system should preferably be 6-10 cm. If the soil in the hole is loose, in order to prevent the soil from sinking too much after watering and making the planting depth difficult to control, appropriate watering should be done before planting or the soil in the hole should be slightly pressed down with the feet.

4. Reasonable watering

Build a watering tree basin around the hazelnut tree with a diameter of 1 m to facilitate irrigation and water storage. After planting, water immediately and water sufficiently and thoroughly. After the water seeps down, cover with soil to preserve moisture and cover the tree basin with plastic film to retain moisture and increase temperature, thereby promoting root activity of the hazelnut tree and improving the survival rate.

5. Timely pruning

Leave one trunk, and afterward carry out shaping and pruning according to its own growth and development characteristics to form a reasonable framework. Generally, three tree forms are used: few-trunk clump form, single-trunk form and multi-trunk clump form. In the few-trunk clump form, 3-4 basal branches are retained as main branches and grow obliquely in different directions. Lateral branches grow on the main branches of the hazelnut tree, and vegetative branches and fruiting mother branches grow on the lateral branches, overall still forming an open-center tree form. In the single-trunk form, one trunk should be retained, 3-4 evenly distributed main branches should be selected and retained on the trunk, lateral branches should be selected and retained on the main branches, and secondary branches and fruiting mother branches should grow on the lateral branches to form a low trunk.

6. Fertilizing and trunk determination

Apply decomposed farmyard manure in early May, and apply compound fertilizer as a topdressing in mid-July. In the second year after planting, topdressing can be applied outside the projection around the crown of the hazelnut tree, but not too deep. After planting, trunk determination for hazelnut trees is divided into single-trunk form and clump form. Plots with good soil, fertilizer and water conditions are suitable for the single-trunk tree form, with trunk determination height of 60-70 cm. Otherwise, the clump tree form is suitable, with trunk determination height of 30-40 cm. For seedlings planted in the same year, water and fertilizer management should be strengthened to make them grow robustly and sprout a certain number of branches, with good lignification to prevent excessive vegetative growth of the hazelnut tree. After leaf fall in autumn, earth up to protect against cold, and mounding soil up to 1/2 of the plant is sufficient. In the following spring, remove the cold-protection soil. Generally, from the second year onward, there is no need to earth up for cold protection.