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Salinity Issues in the California Almond Industry:

The images below were taken by Soil Secrets Dealer David Hilton near Modesto California.  The site is Aaron's Cook Ranch, a significant almond producer in the State of California.  In recent years the Almond production industry has been impacted by increasing salinity of the soil, caused by drought and poor quality irrigation pumped ground water.  Summer of 2013 was particularly destructive to the crop, with many farmers losing trees and even removing orchards that are failing.  

The Cook Ranch treated 20 acres using 600 pounds of TerraPro per acre banded 4 to 6 inches wide on top of the drip irrigation line.  TerraPro is a soil conditioner containing as an active ingredient a novel bio-organic matrix of supramolecular humic molecules.  The trees were also foliar sprayed with an AGGRAND organic nutrient product to provide essential nutrition while also avoiding adding additional salinity via a standard fertilizer.  I'll write another blog on the protocol used with the AGGRAND nutrition program on this trial.  

In addition to the treated fields showing no salt burn on the foliage when compared to the control fields,


the almonds on the treated field are continuing to mature


and not prematurely crack open. 


David also tested the porosity (softness) of the soil by pushing a round 30 inch foundation stake


into the soil of the control and the treated fields. 
In the control fields he could not penetrate the soil with the stake, but in the treated field the soil had grown mellow and soft where he was able to push the stake in 18 inches. 


Below is he written report to Bob Geyer and John Miller, Soil Secrets Associates provided by David Hilton on the progress of this trial. 
  
"I went last week to Aaron's cook ranch, I took a 30'' round foundation stake and with one push it went 18 inches into the soil that was treated with Soil Secrets TerraPro product, the almonds looked great, no salt damage on any leafs and the new wood is doing I think awesome." 

From: David Hilton

Sent: 7/21/2014   
Michael M. Melendrez
Managing Member of Soil Secrets LLC

michael@soilsecrets.com



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