Badam plantation is done worldwide commercially due to huge profit. Almond is a profitable crop that is cultivated commercially throughout the world. Farmers are achieving 1400 pounds to 2600 pounds from 1 acre.
Almond tree profile
Height and width – Almond is a “Rose Family” medium-sized tree that grows 4 m to 10 m (13 – 33 ft) in height with a trunk up to 30 cm and leaves 8 cm to 13 cm long.
Flowers – Almond tree flowers are white to pale pink in colour with 3 to 5 cm of diameter having 5 petals.
Fruit name – In Botanical terms, almond is not a nut, it is a drupe. The almond fruit is 3.5 to 6 cm long.
Prunus is the genus of almond and it is a species of tree that is native to Iran and surrounding countries. Sometimes it looks like a peach plum. Its fruit consists of an edible seed covered by a hard outer shell, while reaching maturity when it dries the hull splits open and the almond nut can be easily separated from the hard shell.
Badam plantation in India & fertilizer
Almond farming in India is done on a good scale. Sweet and bitter almond trees, both are grown in India. Indian almonds are fast-growing plants and grow one metre in a year when young.
1 kg almond price in India varies between Rs 600 to Rs 1500 according to the variety and marketplace region. Moreover, people are adapting to California almond cultivation and the demand is rising for it.
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By following the below-given information you can get an idea to start its cultivation.
There are two types of almonds sweet and bitter. These sweet and bitter nuts are used in various foods including sweets, nuts and milk and also used in producing oils. Almond trees grow best in warm dry summers and mild winters. Mediterranean climates are considered the best for growing them. The optimal temperature required for tree growth is between 15 °C to 30 °C (59 and 86 °F).
Commercial varieties of almonds in India
California paper shell, Merced, IXL, Shalimar, Makhdoom, Waris, Pranyaj, Non-Pareil. Some other high-yielding varieties of almonds grown in India are Primorskij, Ne Plus Ultra, Thompson, Peerless, Carmel, Price, Butte, Monterey, Ruby, Fritz, Sonora, Padre and Le Grand.
Climate conditions
Mediterranean climate conditions are suitable conditions for badam plantations. Warm dry summers and mild winters are preferable climates needed for them.
Temperature required – 15 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.
Water requirements
Flowering occurs from Feb to March and fruit development takes place from April to June, both stages are critical in badam farming. A drip irrigation system is considered for better water management.
Soil requirements
Badams can easily grow in a wide range of soils but the best soil type is loamy soil, deep and well-drained soil. Avoid heavy and poor soil with a poor drainage system. Moreover, 7.0 to 8.5 is the ideal soil pH level for them.
Plant spacing
The badam plantation is classified according to plant density. For grafted/budded plants, a square system is being chosen to grow almond trees in Australia.
Normal density – 6m x 6m.
Medium-density badam planting – 4m x 4m.
High-density planting system – 3.5m x 3.5m – 2.5m.
Maintain every 3rd row as a pollinizer row.
To grow badam trees from cutting first you need to dig the pit at a size of 3ft x 3ft x 3ft during September and october month. You should plant them in the months of February and March. Moreover, bamboo support can help the plants to grow vertically.
Fertilizer requirement
A good amount of manure and fertilizer is required for the almond plants. Well, rotten farmyard manure is practised and it is good to apply rotted farmyard manure (FYM) to your plants in the form of organic fertilizers.
A soil test is necessary before applying fertilizer nutrients moreover leaf test is also good for the same. The age of the tree matters when providing fertilizer and manure to them.
Fertilizer is classified below:
Dec to Jan – 20 to 25 kg FYM per tree.
Apply urea in 2 to 3 split doses.
1st dose – Apply the first half dose of urea before blooming (DAP full) (MOP full).
2nd dose – Apply 1/4th of urea after 3 weeks of fruit set.
3rd dose – Apply 1/4th of urea from May to June.
For promoting fruiting bud formation and growth you can apply a urea spray of about 1.5% to 2%.
Harvesting
At the July end, the almond begins to split open and the splits widen between mid to late August which exposes the shell and allows the nut to dry. August and September are the harvesting season for almonds.
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Harvest at home – In July last week, it began to split open and in the month of August almond splits get widened which exposes the shell and it automatically results in the drying out of the nuts. Now it is more than 50% split stage and you can pluck the nuts manually but make sure the nuts are dry enough for harvesting.
Harvesting can be done manually as well as knocking the branches with the stick but do take good care of fruiting while knocking the branches with the stick, later the almond hull is removed manually.
Intercropping
Intercropping is necessary during tree farming because trees take more than 5, 8 or 10 years to produce fruits. The badam tree also needs 5 to 12 years to produce fruits, hence it is recommended to do intercropping in order to obtain a regular monthly income. The best intercropping crops are pulses, carrots, turnip seed production, saffron, pea, knoll khol, bulb production of onion, garlic bulb production, garlic, and aromatic plants such as lavender.
Local names of almonds in India
- Telugu – Badam Pappu.
- Tamil – Badam Paruppu.
- Kannada – Baadami.
- Almond in Hindi language – Badam.
- Marathi – Badam.
- Malayalam – Badam kayu.
- “Ofio” is the local name of almond in Nigeria. Almonds are also known as Yorubas.
FAQ
How many almond trees per acre should we plant?
500 trees.
What are the soil requirements for almond trees?
loamy soil, deep and well-drained soil.
What is the soil ph for almond trees?
7.0 to 8.5.
What is the important fertilizer for almond plants?
Organic fertilizers are always best for fruits and herbs. Vermicomposting and homemade compost are good options for organic fertilisers.
How long do almonds take to grow?
This tree can take 5 to 12 years to produce nuts. One good tree can produce nuts for 25 years.
When to harvest badams in India?
August and September.
When to harvest almonds in Melbourne?
Harvesting of almonds in Australia takes place during the month of August and September.
What is the almond farming profit per acre?
1400 pounds to 2600 pounds can be produced from 1 acre.
What are the varieties of almonds grown in California?
California produces approximately 30 varieties and there are 13 major varieties grown for commercial farming. Some of the important types are Nonpareil, Monterey, Independence, Fritz, Carmel, Butte and Padre. California Nonpareil almonds are more than 120 years old, it contribute 40% of annual almond production in California.
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