How Can Walnuts Be Grown for Profit in the Long Run?
Our country’s farmers are turning to commercial farming in addition to traditional agriculture as a means of augmenting their income. They can cultivate walnuts and profit handsomely from them. They are high in protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, and potassium. As a result, walnuts are highly sought after in the market. Walnut farming still takes place mostly in hilly areas of the country, despite the fact that it is already grown in many other places. If walnuts are grown with proper care, growers may benefit financially.
Important Steps in Walnut Cultivation
The bulk of horticulture, or walnut cultivation, occurs in hilly areas of India. At the moment, the states that grow walnuts are Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. That being said, Jammu & Kashmir is the world’s leading producer of walnuts, as they are a fruit native to the North-Western Himalayan region. Additionally, its plants can be found growing at elevations ranging from 1200 to 2150 metres above sea level.
To maximise production and turn a profit from growing walnuts, the following needs to be taken care of:
A Climate Suitable for Growing
Walnut cultivation requires a moderate climate because of the high sensitivity of its fruits and plants to temperature. Moreover, tree growth is restricted by frost. Walnuts grow best at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The Soil Required for Walnut Cultivation
A loam soil that drains well and is friable is perfect for growing walnuts. It is not recommended to grow walnuts in sandy or hard soil; an alkaline field is better.
Is There A Proper Time To Plant Walnuts?
The months of December through March are ideal for walnut growth. Although some areas also grow walnuts in the rainy season, December is recommended as the best month to plant walnuts. This is because of the month-long stability of temperature.
preparing the field for the cultivation of walnuts
In walnut farms, seeds are sown by digging holes in the ground. The field should be left open after being deeply ploughed with a cultivator powered by a John Deere 5105 tractor before the pits are ready. Then, to loosen the soil, go across the field with the rotavator. The land should then be levelled by farmers using boards. Creating 2 foot wide and 1 to 1½ foot deep pits
Nursery Configuration for Walnut Farming
Nurseries are prepped for transplanting walnut seedlings in May and June using a John Deere 5405 tractor. The nursery then uses grafting to prepare the walnut plants. Fruiting plants grown from seeds take 20 to 25 years to mature. Conversely, it takes a few years for the grafted plants to start yielding.
Handling Manure and Fertiliser in the Cultivation of Walnuts
Before transplanting, the pits should be filled with ten to twelve kilograms of decomposing cow dung manure and one hundred to fifty grams of chemical fertilizer. It is recommended to give the plants small doses of zinc if there is a zinc deficit in the field.
Controlling Water in Walnut Plantations
Watering walnut crop plants every 20 to 30 days is recommended during the winter months. On the other hand, if there is a lot of frost in the winter, plants should not get much water. Once fully mature, the walnut tree only needs seven or eight irrigations per year.
Harvesting for the Purpose of Making Walnuts
The first fruit on walnut plants appears after about four years. The walnut fruits should be harvested when the upper bark starts to peel. After they have ripened, about 25% of walnuts show signs of spontaneous fracture and falling. Because of this, the fruits of the plant should be picked off before they fall using long bamboo sticks.