Improving Productivity & Nut Quality in the South African

Macadamia Industry

Andrew Sheard &

Subtrop/SAMAC Technical team

SA Macadamia Industry - Area planted (%)

32.5%

45.0%

20.8%

1.7%

Extension services

6 Technical advisors in 4 main regions

Farm visits

Telephonic / emails

Regional Study groups

“In a Nutshell” industry newsletter

Farmers Days

Annual Research Symposium

SA Macadamia Industry

Average yields:

Lower in Coastal vs. Inland production areas

But better quality kernel in coastal areas

Nut quality:

TKR% higher in Coastal vs. Inland areas

Cultivar differences: ‘816’ / ‘A4’ vs. ‘Beaumont’

Unsound kernel (USK%)

Early & late stink bug (40-50%)(FSB in Australia)

Immaturity & Discolouration

SA Macadamia Industry

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

Irrigation management

Electricity (25% annual increase for 3 yrs) &

water costs increasing

Current research

Comparing xylem water potential vs.

tensiometers & continuous logging

capacitance probes

Increased used of continuous logging soil

moisture probes e.g. DFM/Aquacheck probes

(Enviroscan/Sentek-Australia)

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

Canopy Management

Window pruning

Reducing tree height

Improved light penetration

& productivity

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

Nutrition

Improved timing & frequency of NPK

Fertigation

Micronutrient management esp.

Zn, B & Cu

Soil application vs. foliar

sprays

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

Pest (& disease) control

Stink bugs – two-spotted & coconut bug

Pest scouting courses

Macadamia Nut Borer / FCM

Diseases - generally a minor issue

but blossom blight (Cladosporium spp.)

& husk rot are increasing

Nursery Certification Scheme

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

Schalk Schoeman

S Serfontein

Bensch et al., 2010

New cultivars

New Cultivar Steering Committee`established

Trials in existing & new production areas /

countries (Mozambique)

Small-scale farmers

SAMAC & Gov. extension support

170 growers (313 000 trees)

Farm sizes: 0.5 to 20 ha’s

What is SAMAC doing to improve

On-farm Production?

What is SAMAC doing to improve

Nut Quality?

Kernel shelf-life research

Currently no shelf-life norms for kernel

Examined effects of:

Storage period

Storage temperature

Style

Time of season

on shelf life using the Rancimat test

Storage protocols for DIS

Use peroxide analysis to monitor quality

What is SAMAC doing to improve

Nut Quality?

On-farm drying / curing facilities:

State-of-the-art drying facilities

– “Dorran Bungay method”

Correct temperatures for curing (<30°C)

Increased on-farm storage capacity

Bin sizes: 2, 4 or 8 tons

DIS cool storage facilities

– temps <18°C

What is SAMAC doing to improve

Nut Quality?

Stink bug / Pest Steering Committee:

Pheromone for Two-spotted bug

Trap crops for stink bugs / Coconut bug

Stink bug monitoring & forecasting

Degree day model

Scouting

Thrips/mite monitoring & identification

Bats as potential bio-control agents

What is SAMAC doing to improve

Production & Nut Quality?

Schalk Schoeman

Registration of new pesticides

National Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry

– new policy for Minor Crops

Faster and cheaper registration

process

Chemical registrations may be based

on overseas trials & residue

data

What is SAMAC doing to improve

Production & Nut Quality?

Industry Challenges

Continual improvement of nut/kernel quality - local &

export markets

Improve farm yields

Canopy management / Irrigation / Nutrition

Shortage of researchers

Limited government research funding

Theft – nuts and farm equipment

Escalating electricity, water and other inputs

Benchmarking studies – Collect accurate &

meaningful industry information

Acknowledgements

SUBTROP/SAMAC Technical staff

Alwyn du Preez – Golden Macadamias

Thank you