One question that I receive often is, “Can an old, abandoned pecan orchard be brought back into production?” The answer is yes. However, like everything else, it will require some work and some money.
The first thing I always ask anyone interested in renovating an orchard for profit is, “Do you plan to irrigate it?” If the answer is no, then do not read any further!! UGA Extension Pecan Horticulturalist Dr. Lenny Wells says, “You must have water to grow pecans consistently and make them profitable whether you are in the New Mexico desert or the Georgia Coastal Plain.”
Dr. Wells generally recommends drip irrigation for orchard renovations. The system is relatively easy to install and the most water-efficient. People often ask if the trenching required in installation will harm the trees. No, it will not. The benefit of the water you will be applying far outweighs any negative effect from a small amount of root pruning that occurs.
The irrigation system will need the capacity to supply 3,600-4,000 gallons per acre per day within 12 hours during the peak demand period of mid-August through mid-September. Dr. Wells says it is best to irrigate from a ground well rather than a pond or lake. The trash sucked through the pump easily clogs a drip system. A four-inch well with a 5 to 7.5 horsepower pump should supply up to 25 acres in most areas of South Georgia. However, you may have to be split into two irrigation zones. Larger orchards will require a larger well.
You may also need to do some pruning of lower limbs to open up sunlight, allow equipment to pass, and stop limbs from blocking your spray pattern. Many of these older orchards, even though they may have been out of production for many years, have adequate levels of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and even Zinc (Zn). This is because there is an enormous amount of nutrient cycling in pecan orchards.
Therefore, perform a soil test before making these applications. Add lime as recommended by soil sample. Apply only a moderate (50-75 pounds N/acre) amount of nitrogen (N) the first year in April. If the trees happen to hit a big crop the year you start working the orchard, you can add more N later in the season. A little bit of N this year will do a lot for the trees next year if it’s been a while since they received any N.
Finally, the trees will respond quickly to a good spray program, including fungicide, insecticides, and foliar Zn. Some orchards will require more work than others but, in most cases, you can have the trees in the orchard back in full production within three years, mostly by providing water, sunlight, and a little fertilizer.
For additional questions, contact Effingham County Extension Agent Sam Ingram at 754-8040 or singram@uga.edu.
