ABC’s irrigation & technology adviser, Tom Devol at an irrigation pump
age and expected yield, to generate a preseason nutrient plan. As the season progresses and more data becomes available, the same plan can be revisited and refined. Yield plays a central role in the calculation, but the tool also accounts for nutrient contributions from other sources, such as irrigation water or organic amendments, helping growers avoid double counting nutrients they already have. “How much to apply doesn’t only depend on yield,” Saa noted. “If you use soil amendments, some of those amendments contain nitrogen and thus reduce the need for fertilizer. All this is included in the calculator.” Adjust as the Season Unfolds As previously mentioned, one of the key advantages of the new calculator is its ability to adapt as the season progresses. Growers can save a unique link to their initial plan, return mid-season (end of April/beginning of May), and update inputs as yield estimates improve or new information, such as leaf tissue analysis, becomes available. “This allows the user to fine tune their former fertilization budget even further,” Saa noted.
The calculator is hosted by UC Davis’ Fruit and Nut Center, which already supports a range of decision- support tools used by California growers. Growers can access the calculator here: bit.ly/NKcalc or by visiting the Grower Tools page on Almonds.org, where tools can be filtered by focus area, resource type, or host organization. Getting Nutrient Management Right Ultimately, the calculator is about helping growers make confident, informed decisions — balancing productivity, environmental stewardship and cost control. “Getting it right is fundamental,” Saa said. “From an economic point of view, from an environmental point of view, and from an efficiency and productivity point of view.” With the new Nitrogen and Potassium Calculator, growers now have a practical, research-based tool to help do just that. “The sooner you make your fertilization plan, like at the beginning of the season, the higher the ROI is going to be,” Saa said. Article Contributed by the Almond Board of California
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