Pistachio farming is done mainly for its edible nuts in India and is a deciduous tree in the family Anacardiaceae. Pistachios thrive in grape-like clusters on the tree, and inside the shell are pistachios. The pistachio tree leaves are pinnate and are composed of five individual oval leaves. The flowers of the pistachio tree are small, greyish-green, and lack petals. The pistachio is a drupe with an oblong kernel that is covered with a thin, bony shell. Then, as it matures, the shell splits along its long axes. Pistachio trees can reach 20 feet in the wild but are usually smaller under cultivation.
Pistachio Cultivation Areas in India
You should grow the pistachio in Jammu and Kashmir in India for the highest production. Pistachio mainly originated from the Middle East and Central Asia countries. Pistachios have been used for ice cream decorations or other foods. In India, pistachio production areas are Kannada, Tamil, West Bengal, Punjab and Kashmir.
The pistachio mainly originated from Central Asia. Pistachio cultivated areas are mostly characterised by dry and hot climates like the US (California), Syria, Lebanon, Iran, India, Turkey, South Europe, and other countries of Asia and Africa.
How to Grow the Pistachio in India
You need to know the essential sections to help in profitable commercial pistachio farming when you start a plant to plant. We can provide information related to more reliable tractors in pistachio farming. You should use the New tractor, which aids in the whole process of cultivation. Here we are describing information about starting and operating successful pistachio farming.
Climate Requirement for Pistachio Yield
Weather conditions are important for the cultivation of pistachio crops. These nuts prefer daytime temperatures above 36 °C, and in the winter season, it is preferred to maintain a temperature level of 7 °C. Pistachio trees do not grow well due to cold temperatures in high-altitude areas. Jammu and Kashmir is the best place for Pistachio cultivation.
Climatic conditions are important when growing pistachio trees, and the ideal temperature for pistachio trees is above 37 °C during the day. However, pistachio trees need enough cold in the winter to complete their dormant period, 7 °C or less. Also, due to cold temperatures, pistachio trees do not do well at high altitudes.
Soil Requirement
Sandy loamy soil with good drainage deep soil is best for pistachio cultivation. These types of walnut trees are quite drought-tolerant, while some areas have high humidity. High-quality pistachio trees have been produced where the soil’s pH level is kept in the range of 7.0 to 7.8. Soils with high alkalinity are good for the cultivation of pistachios.
Propagation for Pistachio Farming
- Pistachio is propagated by budding on a suitable pistachio rootstock. Rootstock varieties vary widely between growing regions. Budding is done in the fall with a budding tree planted in the following year, depending on the size of the seedling.
- You should plant the pistachio trees about an inch lower than when the container has grown.
- Tree spacing varies depending on irrigation. For example, in an irrigated orchard, pistachio trees can be spread in a grid pattern of 6×6 m.
- In dry areas where supplemental irrigation is not used, trees can be spaced 8 × 10 m apart. For pistachio trees to bear fruit, male and female trees should be planted. The males to females ratio varies from 1:8 to 1:10 from males to females.
Pollination in Pistachio Farming
The pistachio tree is dioecious; male and female flowers are produced on separate trees. Generally, insufficient pollen is a primary cause of crop failure. Therefore, one male (pollinator) tree is recommended for about 8 to 10 female (producer) trees. However, a good garden layout would be to plant pollen in the middle of a nine-tree block throughout the garden. You should also plant the upward border rows with pollinators. Female flowers do not have petals that attract bees for pollination. Therefore, pollen transfer depends entirely on the winnings.
Method of Sowing in Pistachio Farming
Planting to dig large holes encourages the plant’s roots to adjust somewhat. In this regard, the plant distance depends mainly on irrigation and the distance when the crop is planted for cultivation. Irrigation is not properly available in some cultivated areas; It requires space for the grid pattern to be approximately 6 x 6 metres. In addition, it contains pistachio grains, which you should apply in a ratio of about 1:8 to 1:10.
Irrigation Requirement
Pistachio trees are drought-tolerant; you should maintain them with ample moisture whenever you need them. Mulching is a good practice to retain the water, and you can adopt drip irrigation to properly utilise water. Avoid any water logging conditions; the rainy season doesn’t require any irrigation.
Pistachio trees are drought-tolerant; watering these Pistachio trees is the best thought, as the trees produce higher yields when provided with proper water. However, watering Pistachio trees can be tricky. So water the plants when the top 2 inches of soil gets dry. Give the water often in summers, and drip irrigation is the best idea in Organic Pistachio farming for better tree yield and growth.
Need the Equipment
When you want information about Pistachio farming, you should also know the tools that will help increase the yield. Rotavator, cultivator, tiller and tractor are essential in every Pistachio farming. However, the tractor is the most important among all the equipment. That’s why we recommend the 4WD tractor for Pistachio cultivation in India.
For further information about pistachio farming in India, stay tuned with us.
