Macadamia grower's handbook Reprint – information current in 2004

REPRINT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ! For updated information please call 13 25 23 or visit the website www.deedi.qld.gov.au

This publication has been reprinted as a digital book without any changes to the content published in 2004. We advise readers to take particular note of the areas most likely to be out-of-date and so requiring further research: • Chemical recommendations—check with an agronomist or Infopest www.infopest.qld.gov.au • Financial information—costs and returns listed in this publication are out of date. Please contact an adviser or industry body to assist with identifying more current figures. • Varieties—new varieties are likely to be available and some older varieties may no longer be recommended. Check with an agronomist, call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23, visit our website www.deedi.qld.gov.au or contact the industry body. • Contacts—many of the contact details may have changed and there could be several new contacts available. The industry organisation may be able to assist you to find the information or services you require. • Organisation names—most government agencies referred to in this publication have had name changes. Contact the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or the industry organisation to find out the current name and contact details for these agencies. • Additional information—many other sources of information are now available for each crop. Contact an agronomist, Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 or the industry organisation for other suggested reading. Even with these limitations we believe this information kit provides important and valuable information for intending and existing growers. This publication was last revised in 2004. The information is not current and the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed by the State of Queensland. This information has been made available to assist users to identify issues involved in production. This information is not to be used or relied upon by users for any purpose which may expose the user or any other person to loss or damage. Users should conduct their own inquiries and rely on their own independent professional advice. While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this publication. 205 7

INDEXINDEXINDEX

A A. lutescens lutescens 131 135 Acacia 137 bark grafting 183 access roads 20, 22 bark splitting 14 acephate 42, 200 Basta 53 Acrocercops chionosema 134 bearing trees 44 action levels 54 management 90. See also canopy air grading 66 management; trees–management airblast machines 154 benomyl 201, 202 airblast sprayers 56 plus carbendazim 201 airshear nozzles 152 best practice groups 82 alternaria blight 201 beta-cyfluthrin 54, 200, 202 aluminium 46 black citrus aphid 200 Amblypelta nitida 131 black scale 200 Chapter ammonium 109 blossom blight 55, 201 acetate 202 control measures 55 AMS News Bulletin 196 management 138 anthracnose 201 books, publications 196 aphids 200 borax, bearing trees 47 APVMA 62, 150, 199 boric acid 110 Armillaria root rot 27, 55 boron 91, 108, 110 assassin bug 144 bearing trees 47 Australian Macadamia Society botrytis 138, 161 186, 196, 197, 198 blight 201 Australian Standards 16 Botrytis cinerea 138 AVG 24 branch dieback 55 azinphos-methyl 54, 200, 202 broad mite in potted seedlings 179 B bruising 68 Bacillus thuringiensis 54, 200, 202 brush box 136 bana grass 29, 58 brushcutters 41 bananaspotting bug 130, 200 135 life cycle, host 131 bud grafting 175 bangalow palm 136

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook 206 Chapter 7 budding 176, 179 compost punch 181 applying 173 bud stick 175, 176 making, monitoring 171 budwood 175, 179 problems 172 vermi, passive, thermophilic 169 C when is it ready? 172 C-Probe 123 composted nut husk 41 cage nozzles 152 concentrate spraying 151 calcareous 110 consignment 67 calcium 46, 108, 109 consultants 187 bearing trees 47 container-grown plants 178 calibrating sprayers 155 contract services 187 callus tissue 174 Controlled Droplet Application sprayers 155 cambium 174 copper 36, 91, 108, 111 canegrubs 200 ammonium acetate 201 canopy management 160, 165 excessive use of 106 bearing trees 51 fungicide 43 costs 73 hydroxide 201 developing tips 164 hydroxide plus metalaxyl-M 201 growth 161 oxychloride 43, 55, 201 light interception 162 sulfate 201, 202 partial removal 183 cornelian butterfly 200 capacitance probes 126 COSOP 78 capital required 5 costs carbaryl 42, 200, 202 annual variable 73 carbendazim 55, 201, 202 fixed 74 carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios 170 couch grass 30, 166 carpet grass 30, 166 coumatetralyl 58, 200, 202 Casuarina 137 crop production handy guide 203 caterpillars 200 crop, selling 15 in potted seedlings 179 cross-pollination 26 cation exchange capacity 46, 105 Cryptoblabes hemigypsa 133 central leader system 39 Cryptophlebia ombrodelta 131 ChemCert Training 16, 158 cucurbits 136 chemical accreditation 158 cuprous oxide 201, 202 chemical trade names 202 cutter-bar 27 chemicals cuttings 181 APVMA 199 D information 193 pest handy guide 200, 201 Dactyloctenium australe 163 questions 15 Daddow storage 15, 16 characteristics 100 chlorophyll 107, 109 DAP 50 chlorosis 107 dehusking 14, 63, 64 chlorpyrifos 200, 202 equipment 166, 193 cincturing 175 diazinon 200, 202 citrus 136 dilute spraying citrus mealybug 200 required volume 151 Class A pan evaporation 127 diseases clay loams 122 Armillaria root rot 27, 55 climate 6 bearing trees 55 clinometer 20 blossom blight 55 clones 175, 181 branch dieback 55 coastal brown ants 144 control measures 55 cobbler’s pegs 41 husk rot 55 Colwell soil test 108 husk spot 10, 55

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook Index 207

management details 137 bearing trees; placement 50 trunk canker 55 before planting 32 disorders 56 boron 48 rats 57 calcium 48 tree decline 56 choosing 116 Diviner 123 for potting mix 177 dolomite 108, 109 inorganic 49 bearing trees 47 magnesium 48 young trees 38 nitrogen 48 DPI&F Call Centre 195 nutrient content 50 DPI&F Publications 196 organic 49 drainage 89 phosphorus 48 drift spraying 153 potassium 48 drippers 34 when to apply 12 drop height 68 young trees 38 drought 13 zinc 48 drumMUSTER 157 field grafting 184 drying 14, 63 firebreak 59 and storage 66 first grade kernel 69 dwarfing rootstocks 163 fixed costs 74 flotation grading 15, 66 E flower caterpillar 54 early nut drop 13 flower thrips 13, 55, 200 earthworms 106 flowering 86 economic analysis 72 flowers economics 9 blossom blight 55 Elachertus sp. 146 flowers, dying 13 endosulfan 16, 42, 200, 202 felted coccid damage 13 legal requirements 80 flower thrips damage 13 environmental effects on growth, flowering 88 macadamia flower caterpillar 13 EnviroSCAN 123 raceme blight disease 13 Epsom salts 109 redshouldered leaf beetle damage 13 equipment flushing 86 manufacturers 192 foliar fertilisers 14, 49 suppliers 192 forced-air drying 15 Eriococcus ironsidei 134 fracturing 68 erosion control costs 73 frost 88 ethephon 62 on young trees 37 ethoprophos 200, 202 frost damage Eucalyptus 137 to flowers 13 evaporation figures 129 fruitspotting bug 130, 200, 144 evaporation pan 123 life cycle, host plants 131 fungus 14 F G farm needs 6 FarmBis 195 G1K 69. See also glossary felted coccid 13, 42, 55 girdling 175 fertigation 38, 118 glufosinate-ammonium 53 bearing trees 50 glyphosate 33, 53 young trees 38 Gopher 123 fertiliser. See foliar fertilisers; organic; poultry Government technical services 195 manure grading, flotation 66 acidifying effect 117 grafting 174, 179. See also budding bearing trees 45, 46, 48 field 184 bearing trees; foliar 49 grafting mastic 181 bearing trees; mixed 49 Granomag 109

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook 208 Chapter 7 green manure 33 HV A variety characteristics 94 green vegetable bug 136, 200 HV A4 decline 169 monitoring 149 hybrid forage sorghum 33 banksii 133 hybrid varieties 181 133 hydraulic nozzles 152 Grevillea pinnatifida 133 133 I grey mould 138 income, return on 10 gross margin 74 information search services 198 ground cover 13, 22, 30, 53, inorganic fertilisers 49, 116 60, 161, 163, 167, 168 integrated pest management (IPM) 54, 140 grower organisations 186 inter-row ground cover 53 growing-on 178 iprodione 55, 201, 202 growth cycle 85, 87 iron deficiency 107 diagram 88 irrigation. See also watering gumming 14 essentials 122 gypsum 12, 108 in young trees 91 bearing trees 47 monitoring system 122 blocks 123 questions 11 rates - bearing trees 51 H irrigation scheduling 127 H2 decline 169 irrigation system–installing 33 HACCP 78 ISO 9002 77 HAES 508 decline 169 HAES variety characteristics 96 K hairy caterpillar kangaroos 42 monitoring 148 kernel discolouration 24 hairyline blue butterfly 200 kernel first grade 69 135 kernel recovery 94 hammer mill 65 boron effect 110 handling damage 68 sound 69 hares 42 kikuyu 30, 166 harvest, when to 14 krasnozem soil 47, 107, 110, 113, 114, 122 harvesting 61 water infiltration rates 122 equipment 193 management 26 L mechanical 62 labour 8 preparation 60 land tree 62 clearing 21 harvesting and marketing costs 73 preparation 27, 166 heading 164. See also topping latania scale 42, 55, 130, 136, 144, 200 hedgerow monitoring 148 light in 162 late nut drop 24 hedging 164 leaf analysis Hemiberlesia lataniae 136 bearing trees 46 herbicides 41, 53 interpreting results 115 management 168 sampling leaves 46 hibiscus mealybug 200 understanding results 112 high density planting 93 when to do 12 honeybees 59 leaf fall 14 hot spots 131 leaf nutrient recommended levels 113 husk rot 55 leafeating caterpillars 200 husk spot 10, 11, 13, 24, 55, 94 leafminer 42, 55, 99 control measures 55 legumes 136 management 139 Leptospermum petersonii 29 spray coverage 153

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook Index 209 library 198 manure 50 limb marketing 60, 68 breakage 39 Material Safety Data Sheet 159 removal 165 maturity testing 63 lime 108 mealybugs 200 young trees 38 mechanical harvesting 62 liming 90 Melaleuca armillaris 29 living mulch ground covers 168 metalaxyl 43, 201, 202 loamy sands 122 + copper oxychloride 55 long soft scale 42, 200 metalaxyl-M 201 longtailed mealybug 200 methidathion 42, 200, 202 MIASP 78. See Macadamia Industry Approved M Supplier Program M. integrifolia 26, 84 microbial contamination 66 consigning 68 millet 166 M. ternifolia 133 minisprinkler 38 M. tetraphylla 84 misting consigning 68 house 182 macadamia growing areas 1 machines 154 macadamia cup moth 200 mock orange 131 macadamia felted coccid 130, 200 moisture content 15, 66 life cycle, host plants 134 monitoring pests 140 monitoring 146 do-it-yourself 141 macadamia flower caterpillar 13, 130, 145, 200 procedure 142 life cycle, host plants 133 monitoring system–irrigation 122 monitoring 145 monolepta beetle 42 macadamia husk spot 201 mulch 167, 168 Macadamia Industry Approved Supplier Program composted nut husk 41 16, 44, 76 on-farm composting 169 macadamia lace bug 200 with young trees 41 macadamia leafminer 130, 200 mulcher-offset flail 168 life cycle, host plants 134 mulching 57, 168 monitoring 146 bearing trees 53, 167 macadamia mussel scale 200 Murraya paniculata 131 macadamia nutborer 130, 200 N life cycle, host plants 131 monitoring 144 N:P:K 116 macadamia seedbed (drawing) 178 native bees 59 macadamia twig-girdler 130, 135, 200 natural thinning 13 monitoring 147 nematodes 106 macadamia white scale 200 Neodrepta luteotactella 135 machinery and equipment 7 neutron probe 123 MacMan 45, 77 newsletters 198 development 80 Nezara viridula 136 record keeping 79 nitrogen 12, 90, 106, 107 recording 81 application 12 magnesium 46 bearing trees 46, 47, 48 bearing trees 47 NSW Rural Assistance Authority 195 deficiency 109 nursery tree suppliers 186 main diversion drain 30 nut drop maize 136 early 13 management in young trees 89 ethephon to promote 62 managment in bearing trees 44 nut husks, as organic fertiliser 49 manganese 108 nut stemborer 200 nut-in-husk 64

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook 210 Chapter 7 nut-in-shell 64, 72 pest boron spray 110 action levels 54 drying, storage 66 monitoring 54, 140 grading 65 pest and disease control costs 73 prices 69, 74 pest management sorting 64 approaches 140 nut/kernel characteristics 92 bearing trees 54 nutborer 13, 24, 54, 96, 144, 200 young trees 42 action level 54 pest monitoring chart; guidelines 143 spray coverage 153 pesticide nutrients 106 application 150 content of common fertilisers 50 applying the correct dose 150 deficiency 14 safety 157 release - bearing trees 49 pests 54 understanding 107 chemical handy guide 200, 201 nutrition felted coccid 42, 55 costs 73 flower caterpillar 54 in young trees 90 flower thrips 55 management 103 latania scale 42, 55 management program 111 leafminer 42, 55 nuts long soft scale 42 after harvest 14 major occurrences 130 maturity testing 63 monolepta beetle 42 production 87 nutborer 54 redshouldered leaf beetle 42, 55 O scale insects 42 oats 33, 166 spotting bug 54 offset flail mulcher 168 twig-girdler 42, 55 open micropyle 24 petroleum oil 42, 200, 202 optimum moisture content NIS 65 pH 104 optimum soil nutrient levels 112 bearing trees 47 orchard Pheidole megacephala 144 access roads 18, 20 phosphorous acid 43, 55, 201, 202 diversion drains 30 phosphorus 12, 90, 106, 107, 108 economic life of 10 bearing trees 47, 48 establishing 10 fixing soils 108 establishment 18, 166 photosynthesis 88, 107, 109 layout 20 Phytophthora 106 management 26 Phytophthora cinnamomi 137 yields 9 Phytophthora root rot 201 orchard floor management 91, 166 Phytophthora trunk/collar rot 201 organic carbon 106 pink disease 201 organic fertilisers. See also fertiliser pink wax scale 200 bearing trees 49 Variety rights 24 nut husks 49 plant water use 120 poultry manure 12 planting density 166 organic growing 10 plants, container grown 178 organics organisations 194 pollination 91 management 59 P Polyosma cunninghamii 134 paraquat 53 postharvest handling, hygiene & safety 63 passionfruit 136 potassium 90, 108, 109 passive composting 169 application 12 pecan 136 bearing trees 46, 47, 49 135 potato weed 41

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook Index 211 potting mix 176 S poultry manure 12, 49, 50. See also fertiliser pre-germination 24 S7 sales 16 prepare the land 27 salt index table 117 prices 4, 69 sandy loams 122 processing 26 sandy soils processor quality reports 69 nitrogen rates 116 processors 191 scale 200 prochloraz 201, 202 in potted seedlings 179 production costs 4 scale insects 42 propagation 174 scion 174, 184 understanding the basics 176 seedlings 177 proteoid roots 88 shade house 183 pruning. See also trees—managing side trimming 13, 51, 164 bearing trees 12 silky oak 133 side 164. See also hedging silos 67 young trees 91 skirting 165 pruning actions 39 bearing trees 51 Psuedocercospora macadamiae 139 slope 20 punch budding 181 measuring 20 sodium 46 Q soft brown scale 200 soft sprays 140 quality management 76 soil in bearing trees 44 biological health 106 R depth 18 drainage 18, 89 raceme blight disease 13 erosion 14, 20 racemes 84 fertility and health 104 Racumin 58 health indicators 106 rats 24, 29, 130, 200 improving structure 106 bait station 58 map 19 management 57, 132 moisture 88 Rattus rattus 132 pH 104 record keeping 44, 79 sampling 46 red bottlebrush 133 soil analysis 32 red flat mite 200 bearing trees 46 redshouldered leaf beetle 13, 42, 55, 200 interpreting results 114 registrations 202 understanding results 112 replacement rates 113 when to do 12 rodenticide 58 soil auger (diagram) 19 root growth 87 soil nutrients rooting media 182 optimum levels 112 roots soils desiccation 14 alkaline 110 rootstocks 25, 174, 175 amount of water held 121 seedlings for 176 krasnozem 48 rotary hoe 33 nutrients 107 rows Solubor 110 deep ripping 29 bearing trees 47 direction 21 sorting nut-in-shell 64 marking out 29 sound kernel recovery 69 preparation 33 South African egg parasitoid 145 spacing options 26 southern one year canegrub 200 runoff 166 spacing. See trees—establishing: spacing

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook 212 Chapter 7 spiders 144 tree harvesting 62 spinning disk nozzles 152 tree problems splitting 165 decline 14, 56, 169 spotting bugs 10, 13, 54, 130 frost–young trees 37 action level 54 root death 14 monitoring 143 yellowing 14 spray accreditation 16 tree removal 165 spray equipment 153 tree suppliers 186 sprayer calibration 155 trees—establishing 167 spraying guards 38 application 56 marking out sites 33 concentrated 151 nursery 34 dilute 151 ordering 27 information 193 planting procedure 35 keeping records 16 planting windbreaks. See windbreaks records 157 preparing rows 33 safety requirements 158 spacing 11, 23, 25, 26 staghorning 183 when to plant 34 stem canker 201 trees—managing salignus 134 bearing 44 stick-rake 27 bearing; nutrition management 112 sticktight nuts 24, 93, 99 cloned 175 stomata 108, 121 control weeds - young trees 41 stumping 183 diseases in young trees 43 suckers 11 fertigation 38 sulphur 106, 109, 200, 202 fertilising while young 38 surface drainage 22 major pests - young trees 42 sweet smother grass 13, 30, 56, 60, 163, 166, mulching 53 168 mulching bearing trees 167 systemic fungicide 14 nutrient deficiencies 14 nutrition management for young, non-bearing T 111 taxation 74 optimum size 162 tebufenozide 54, 200, 202 pruning 12, 39 Teddington 63 pruning while young 11 temperature range 89 shaping 51 temperature–optimal range 88 side trimming 51, 164 tensiometers 12, 123 skirting 51 monitoring, installing 124 soil erosion 14 tetraphylla varieties 181 training 39 thermophilic composting 169 watering - young trees 38 thiram 201, 202 young trees 37 thrips tribasic 201, 202 in potted seedlings 179 trichlorfon 200, 202 tip cuttings 182 trickle tape 34 tomato 136 trunk canker 14, 55, 94, 99, 201 topping 164 control measures 55 topworking 175, 183 in young trees 43 trace elements 110 management 137 trade names 202 twig dieback 14 transpiration 120 twig-girdler 42, 55, 99, 100, 147 tree characteristics 92 in potted seedlings 179 features 84 size, shape, nut drop periods 25

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook Index 213

U X under-tree ground cover 53 135 under-tree minisprinklers 33 133 under-tree sprinklers 7 undersized nuts 24 Y yields 3, 9 V young trees v-drains 30 establishment 89 construction 30 pruning 11 diagrams 31 varieties Z arrangement in orchard 26 zinc 47, 48, 91, 108, 110 best performing 24 banding 48 characteristics 94 sulphate 12 choosing 23 for central New South Wales 101 for northern New South Wales 101 for central Queensland 102 for north Queensland 102 for southeast Queensland 102 issues when selecting 24 process for selecting 92 questions on 10 selection 163 suitability (close planting) 25 trials 100 vegetative flush. See vegetative growth 85 vermicomposting 169 W water; how much? 12 water bath 66 water stress bearing trees 50 water supply 7 water—limited 129 watercourses and dams 22 watering. See also irrigation bearing trees 50 young trees 38 weak crotch 165 weed control bearing trees 53 costs 73 young trees 41 whip graft 179 white wax scale 200 wind 89 windbreaks 21, 27 maintenance 59 planting 29 temporary 28 woody pear 133 worms 169

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook 214 Chapter 7

GROWING GUIDE: Macadamia grower’s handbook