Production for 1998 can be seen in Table I, which shows substantial yields continue to be produced in this tightly spaced block. Yield declined somewhat this year in the Unpruned Hedge compared to other 7' x 22' spacing treatments. We have not found this difference before since we began collecting data in 1981. Data show that the Unpruned tree yield is close to the typically low yielding Temporary Hedge. These 14' x 22' trees have never replaced the fruitwood lost from past alternate tree removal.
Accumulative yields continue to favor the permanently spaced trees.
The continued low yield from the Temporary Hedge treatment suggests that alternate tree removal may be a questionable practice, even in tightly spaced hedgerow almonds. However, the peculiarities of this test site should be considered when interpreting these yield figures. Additionally, the adjacent tightly spaced pollenizer rows created heavily shaded conditions, further inhibiting fruitwood regrowth on the 14' x 22' spaced Nonpareil plots. Certainly under our conditions with nearly 7000 lbs. Loss of lower fruitwood continues in this planting, especially in the unpruned trees.