Pistachios Western Australia An income producing reforestation opportunity for the Wheatbelt

Authors

Andrew Quinn, Western Australian Department of Agriculture

Publication Date

16-5-2001

Series Number

Miscellaneous Publication 009/2001

Publisher

Western Australian Department of Agriculture

City

Perth

ISSN

1326-4168

Abstract

Faced with a rising water-table, salt and acid land impacts, the Western Australian Wheatbelt requires significant changes to traditional farming system models.

Part of this drive towards improved sustainability is the need to re-plant substantial areas to tree belts or blocks. One of the limiting factors in the widescale adoption of on-farm tree planting is the narrow range of opportunities to generate income from these sites.

This report presents a model for the development of a Pistachio nut industry with production integrated into existing Wheatbelt farming systems. In addition to offering significant environmental benefits, the Pistachio tree offers the opportunity to develop a profitable diversification for many Wheatbelt farming operations.

The Pistachio is a hardy tree, capable of living for several hundred years. Once established the tree will survive within the medium, to high rainfall zone of the Wheatbelt without additional watering, however yields are significantly reduced.

In order to achieve viable yields more intensive management is required, using a mix of fresh dam water and pumped underground saline water. Preliminary research indicates the Pistachio will continue to yield for several seasons when irrigated solely with moderately saline water however, the mixing of additional fresh water should recommence as soon as the resource is again available. Close monitoring is required to ensure that the orchard is periodically flushed with fresh water and salt is not allowed to accumulate around the root system.

Number of Pages

38

Keywords

Pistachios; Western Australia ; Wheatbelt; Reforestation

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Forest Management | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Marketing | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Operations and Supply Chain Management | Plant Biology

Recommended Citation

Quinn, A. (2001), Pistachios Western Australia An income producing reforestation opportunity for the Wheatbelt. Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Perth. Report Miscellaneous Publication 009/2001.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/hc_publishedrpts/11

Maps

Maps are not included as part of the complete document download. If this report contains a map, it will be available in the individual parts list below.