In this episode, the AgroTroia "Success in Agriculture" team is at a pistachio grove belonging to Süleyman Karacaoğlu on the Barak Plain in the Oğuzeli district of Gaziantep. In the filming, accompanied by the region's AgroTroia dealer Hüseyin Bozgeyik and agricultural engineer Lale Boz, we watch—with the third consecutive recording at the same grove—what difference regular care and a correct nutrition program make in pistachios. The grove owner's son Şaban Karacaoğlu and Umut Dönmez from AgroTroia also recount the success story experienced.
Pistachios on the Barak Plain and a Success Story
The Barak Plain, extending all the way to Kilis with roughly 200,000-250,000 decares of land, is one of the region's most important pistachio hubs. The trees in this grove are 35 years old and the product of labor spanning long years. The growers say that with planned production they have largely left behind the periodicity called "on-year - off-year." Whereas previously one tractor-load of harvest was taken from two groves, with the nutrition program applied in recent years the yield has increased seriously, and the trailers leave much fuller than before. The AgroTroia team emphasizes that they see the farmer not as a customer but as a member of the family, and that the aim is to earn more for them at less cost.
The Effect of Climate and Weather Instability on Pistachios
This season climatic conditions brought along many adversities that strained pistachios. The excessive rainfall during the flowering period negatively affected pollination and led to fertilization loss in some regions. With excessive heat, leaf-scorch type problems were seen, drying occurred in the fruit, and weather instability caused irregularities in internal fill. Agricultural engineer Lale Boz notes that these adversities were effective not only in pistachios but also in other crops in the region. However, it is expressed that in groves where the nutrition program is applied, thanks to the plant remaining resilient, the effect of these adversities stayed limited, thus protecting the farmer in terms of yield.
Pollination and Yield Increase with the Nutrition Program
Despite the season going badly and pollination not occurring at the desired level during the flowering period, the plant was kept resilient with the applied nutrition program. During the pollination period, fertilization was supported by providing both protection against cold and a male-female balance. The team explains that they use Activo and accompanying products to bring the female trees forward physiologically, so that the male and female reproductive systems follow one another. With this approach—without using hormones or pills—fruit set, calibration, and cluster balance are achieved. As a result, while a high empty-shell ratio was generally observed in pistachios this season, in this grove where the program was applied the empty ratio was almost nil, with high fruit set and calibration.
Post-Harvest Applications and Leaf Shedding
The post-harvest period is a critical stage that lays the foundation of the next season. While many growers use Bordeaux mixture in this period, in this grove Copperas was preferred at a one-percent dose; boron, zinc, and phosphoric acid were added alongside it. The aim is to yellow and shed the leaves as soon as possible. Because the pistachio physiologically has a low chilling requirement it sheds its leaves late; yet early shedding lets the plant enter dormancy early. The zinc source applied post-harvest affects the structure of the stomatal cells, putting the plant into full dormancy, and within about 45 days no leaves remain in the grove. A tree that rests early and in a balanced way wakes homogeneously in spring, entering a healthier season. It is also explained that during the internal fill period heavy nitrogen is given to prevent bud drop, and potassium to support the fill.
Flowering Period, Bud Beetle, and Pest Control
The applications within the year settle onto a specific calendar. After the leaves drop, Copperas is applied at one per 100 liters, then Copperas and phosphoric acid are given for a homogeneous awakening. Before entering the flowering period, control must be done against the capnodis larva that damages the roots; this application is planned for the post-harvest period. Spraying is done against the bud beetle, and because of its scorching property a second application is repeated when the fruit reaches chickpea size. At about five percent flowering, an activator application is done with Ocean Mix; when the fruit reaches chickpea size, a Combi amino acid application is added together with the bud beetle treatment. In the later period, the plant is protected until harvest with Vital against sunscald, as well as applications against red spider and the pistachio psylla.
AgroTroia products featured in this episode
- Copperas - the copper source used for post-harvest leaf shedding and homogeneous awakening.
- Activo - the product used during the pollination period to bring female trees forward physiologically.
- Aminado - the favorite amino-acid-based nutrition product preferred in the region.
- Combi - the amino-acid-supported product applied when the fruit is chickpea size.
This example on the Barak Plain shows how, despite difficult climate and price conditions, regular care together with a correct nutrition program can protect and increase yield in pistachios. The growers convey from their own experience that, leaving the on-year - off-year balance behind, it is possible to take a stable harvest every season. In conclusion, planned production that meets the tree's needs in time secures both this season and the next.
Source: AgroTroia – "Success in Agriculture" program, sponsored by AgroTroia.