Carya illinoinensis - Pecan

Description and Uses

Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) is a temperate tree from Eastern North America . It is mainly grown for its nut crops , which have a long shelf life. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 5 - 10 years. The yield will be 8 kg/tree/year, but in its top season there will be a yield of 26 kg/tree/year. Other crop types include; fuel, nut, oil, ornamental, timber, bio-fuel, The {missing data} is used as major food . The bark is used as " anti-rheuma, " with various (_? - _?) as its significant phytochemical. There is Pecan oil extracted by cold pressing from the tree's seed/nut yielding 70% - 74% oil. The tree's wood is called pecan wood and has a density of 830 - 840 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is slow, it's energetic value is 4000 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is medium. After 50 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Carya illinoinensis has a lifespan of 150 years.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 38 meters tall with a crown of 22 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 900 cm and a row distance of 1,200 cm. It is slow growing and partial shade tolerant. Carya illinoinensis has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the fungi (ecto-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". The tree's flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by wind. Carya illinoinensis is deciduous in winter and a bit allelopathic and has no thorns.

Carya illinoinensis thrives in an altitude of 500 to 2500 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is 0°C; optimally between 5 - 25°C. The optimal rainfall is 1510 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 510 - 2000mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Carya illinoinensis is susceptible to the following pests: . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: Anthracnose , Scab , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are stratificant and can be stored for 4 months. There are approximative 140 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature before chilling period.
• (1) Store harvested seeds moisty at a chilling temperature of 3-7 degrees C for 1-2 months
• (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing.
• (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.