Analysis of various economic production aspects in high and low density walnut orchards. Case study

Abstract

The cultivation of pecan nuts is one of the most important economic activities in Chihuahua, Mexico. In recent years, the price of the walnut has increased, causing a high profitability of the walnut, this has motivated several producers to establish new orchards, with high densities (204 trees per hectare). However, to date there is no reliable economic information to support that high densities are better than low ones. For this reason, the objective of this research was to economically analyze the production of high and low density walnut orchards. In this study, a quantitative research approach was used. The required information was collected through 66 surveys (three for each year of the 11 years analyzed of low and high density plantations) carried out to walnut producers with high and low density plantations (6 producers per year). From the information from the surveys, the production costs were determined by considering all the activities carried out in the high and low density plantations and the income from harvest sales. The results obtained indicate that production costs in the first four years were higher at low densities than at high densities. The yield per nut per walnut from the eighth year was higher at low densities than at high densities and the yield per hectare was higher at high densities due to the greater number of walnut trees per hectare that were planted at high densities. The cost benefit ratio was higher at low densities than at high densities. To date there is no information on the production of walnut in low and high density, so this study is important for farmers, especially in Mexico.