With the arrival of autumn, between October and November, in almond
orchards trained with the Zaragoza system it is time to stop, observe the trees
and evaluate whether to intervene. It is precisely at this stage that the
difference between modern management and approaches still tied to traditional
schemes emerges. In Zaragoza, pruning is no longer a repetitive and costly
operation, but a targeted, fast intervention consistent with a semi-mechanized
production model.
The tree is built over time according to a well-defined form, the
so-called “truncated pyramid trunk”. When mechanical pruning with an inclined
bar at about 33 degrees was carried out in the previous season to define the
external profile, the following year there is no reason to intervene again on
the exterior. The structure is already set and the tree has reacted by
producing young lateral shoots that will remain productive for several years,
ensuring continuity of production and a form suitable for mechanical
harvesting.
Autumn pruning therefore becomes an exclusively internal and very
fast operation. On average, one or two minutes per tree are sufficient. The
goal is not to “clean everything”, but to respect two key images. The first is
the “palm of the hand”: the center of the tree, at the insertion point of the
main scaffolds, must remain open and free. The second is the “light cone”: the
upper part of the canopy must be kept open to allow light to enter. If light
passes, the tree works correctly; if light does not pass, any pruning loses
effectiveness.
When intervening on internal branches that close the center or
obstruct the light cone, the rule is clear and allows no exceptions: never
flush cuts. Always work with spur cuts, leaving 10, 15 or 20 centimeters of
wood. The reason is strictly agronomic. Spur cuts stimulate vegetative renewal,
while flush cuts risk weakening the tree and creating unproductive zones.
In this way, even an inclined or apparently useless internal branch
can, over time, transform into an upright vertical shoot, which is the most
effective structure for carrying almonds and facilitating harvest. It is an
approach that exploits the almond tree’s natural capacity for renewal rather
than opposing it.
The overall approach must be pragmatic. In the field, we speak of
“big game hunting”: immediately identify the largest branch that closes the
light cone, remove it with a single well-executed cut, and end the
intervention. Manic refinements or aesthetic operations are not needed. Here,
operational efficiency is what matters.
Field experience shows that almond trees trained with the Zaragoza
system and managed in this way display a strong aptitude for both production
and vegetative renewal. The spurs confirm it, but above all the management
costs confirm it, which decrease without sacrificing productive yield.
Keywords:
#AlmondTree#AlmondOrchard#ZaragozaSystem
#AlmondTreePruning#AutumnPruning#CanopyManagement#SemiMechanizedPruning#ModernAgriculture
#CostReduction#VegetativeRenewal
#MechanicalHarvesting#AgronomistVitoVitelli
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