PECAN: VIABILITY OF A NEW CROP IN URUGUAY

Potential of production of pecan under Uruguayan agroecological conditions was estimated. In a pecan orchard representative of the south of the country, with 11-year-old trees, phenology stages were determined and setting was measured, as well as harvest. Determinations were done on two representative branches per tree of a sample of 22 trees. Climatic conditions of Uruguay, even though highly irregular, vary within a range suitable for pecan production. Budbreak took place in the third week of September (March for the N hemisphere) after a winter with an accumulation of 564 chilling hours (96% of normal value for the region). Growth took place under a reduced annual rainfall occurrence (81% of the normal amount) with a distribution that generated a deficit from September till harvest. Earliest materials started with pollen liberation on 20 October while the latest one began on 10 November. An average of 73% of setting was achieved after the loss of flowers during mid- and late November. A first fruit drop was detected at the end of December-beginning of January, and a second one from mid-February till March. At the end of the season number of fruits harvested varied between 9 and 92% of original number of flowers. Yields between 3.6 and 18.7 kg/tree gave an acceptable average of production considering the age of the orchard. Through phenology and fruit morphology, 11 fruit tree typologies were identified. Production results are encouraging and economical viability seems feasible and promising, as long as irrigation can be provided.