Establishing pecan transplants

Abstract

Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] nursery transplants performed best on establishment in nonirrigated orchards when using large trees planted early in the dormant season. After 6 years, growth and survival of bareroot transplants were equal to that of containerized transplants when established during the dormant season. Reducing transplant trunk height by ≤75% at planting did not affect subsequent tree survival, although rate of height growth and tree vigor increased such that there was no difference between pruned and nonpruned trees after 3 years, except that pruned trees appeared to possess greater vigor. There also were no differences in growth or survival between augured and subsoil + augured planting sites within 6 years of transplanting, and there were no differences between root pruned (severe tap or lateral root pruning) and nonpruned trees.