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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181173
Title: NITROGEN FERTILIZATION FOR HYBRID HAZELNUTS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST

Author
item BRAUN, LOIS - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Russelle, Michael
item GILLMAN, JEFFREY - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: North American Agroforestry Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2005
Publication Date: 6/12/2005
Citation: Braun, L.C., Russelle, M.P., Gillman, J.H. 2005. Nitrogen fertilization for hybrid hazelnuts in the Upper Midwest. 9th North American Agroforestry Conference Proceedings, June 12-15, 2005, St. Paul, Minnesota. p. 1-10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Hybrid hazelnuts, which combine the high nut production of the European hazelnut, Corylus avellana, with the winterhardiness and disease resistance of two native American species, C. americana and C. cornuta, are being proposed as an alternative crop for the Upper Midwest. However, good agronomic information about growing hybrid hazelnuts in the Midwest is lacking. Current nitrogen (N) recommendations for hazelnut production are based on research from Oregon and may not be applicable to these hybrids in Minnesota due to differing soils, climate, genetics, and growing systems. Anecdotal information from Midwestern growers suggests that these hybrid hazelnuts have very high N requirements, but this had not been confirmed in replicated trials. Excessive N is economically wasteful, may damage the crop, and may become an environmental pollutant, so development of reliable N recommendations will help growers optimize profitability and reduce negative environmental impacts. Field research to determine appropriate N rates was started in 2003 in three new and four established plantations. Preliminary data suggest that N requirements are very low for new plantings but increase as the bushes grow and may be very high for mature bearing bushes.