Managing Pecan Orchards and Vineyards in Texas
Natural, biological driven orchards feed via their roots rather than their leaves. This means soil drenches can be very effective.
The pecan orchard below belongs to Dennis and Marilyn Perz over in Georgetown. SGTX has been fortunate to be able to work with for 4 years. Every year has been different, weather wise, but significant benefits of the natural system didn't start showing up until the 3rd year. Transition from a chemical managed orchard to a natural, organic one can be an adventure.
We want orchards to be very fungal dominated below-the-ground as well as above-the-ground. The pecan tree thrives in a fungal dominated "forest" soil ecology; greater than 10:1 ratio of F:B. A good, fungal match for the orchard floor is horse herb. If the under-ground biological community is fungal, and no herbicides or harsh chemicals are used, it will come in all by itself in Texas soils. It covers and protects the ground very nicely all year except when it dies back before harvest.
The biggest limiting factor in growing pecans is nitrogen. The natural/biological approach uses many tools to get the nitrogen to the tree when it needs it in the amount it needs. One such way is to work with legumnes as cover crops, using the N-fixing bacteria nodules on clover and vetch roots as well as the bio mass which will be pulled into the ground.
Chicken litter is a wonderful way to get some more nitrogen to the tree - but remember, it slowly breaks down and therefore slowing releasing its nutrient to the plant. We like to also use amendments that are available to the tree's environment immediately.
The complete, working soilfood web can deliver several hundred lbs of nitrogen per acre. EctoMycorrhizal fungi can be injected into the ground near a lateral root and many nutrients are cycled to the plant quickly in root available forms.
In the end pecan orchards are about getting pecans. The better the biology in the soil, the better the taste and yield. Give us a call if you are thinking about transitioning to natural or organic pecan production. We can help you get to reliable production.
