How Better Nitrogen Efficiency Drives Marketable Pistachio Yields

Achieving optimal nut size, increasing split nut percentages and driving higher marketable yields requires innovative solutions. 

One of the most critical components of pistachio production is nitrogen use efficiency. Supplying the right micronutrients at the right time is a key way to improve efficiency and support overall plant health.

“Nitrogen is essential for healthy plant growth, leaf development and maximum nut size and quality,” said TJ Bingham, technical agronomist for Koch Agronomic Services (KAS). “However, without proper nutrient management, nitrogen inefficiency can lead to smaller, less developed nuts, reduced split nut percentages and diminished marketable yields.”

The Challenge of Unsplit and Blank Nuts

Pistachio profitability hinges on producing nuts that meet specific market criteria. Closed or blank nuts, which fail to split naturally on the tree, have reduced market value and negatively impact overall yield potential. Despite the significant effort and cost involved in pistachio production, growers often find that a percentage of their harvest remains unmarketable due to these issues.

The Importance of Nut Size

Another challenge is nut size. Larger pistachios earn higher prices in the marketplace; however, achieving this requires effective nutrient management, particularly during the critical development stages. Without efficient nitrogen metabolism, pistachio trees can struggle to produce the desired nut size and quality, resulting in lower returns for growers.

Economic and Production Pressures

Economic pressures further compound these challenges. Balancing input costs while striving for high yields and premium-quality nuts demands solutions that enhance agronomic efficiency, operational efficiency and profitability.

The Role of Nitrogen in Pistachio Profitability

Pistachio trees require significant amounts of nitrogen during critical growth stages, as nitrogen metabolism plays a central role in production, directly influencing nut size, quality and split nut percentages.

Additionally, inefficient nitrogen use means growers aren’t getting the full value from their nitrogen investment.

“If you’re not properly using all the nitrogen you’re applying, you’re not maximizing your yield potential,” said Bingham.

How OPTRIENT™ MoCo-Ni Transforms Pistachio Production

While nitrogen is indispensable for pistachio production, its efficiency is limited without the right support. Molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) are micronutrients that can work together to optimize nitrogen use.

Molybdenum plays a key role in converting nitrate nitrogen into ammonium nitrogen. This process enhances the tree’s ability to synthesize amino acids and proteins, which are vital for nut growth and development. Meanwhile, cobalt supports overall plant metabolism, photosynthesis and growth, and nickel aids in metabolizing plant enzymes, supporting plant health.

“There was a need within the industry for a liquid formulation that could deliver molybdenum, cobalt and nickel together at optimal rates and be easy for producers to use on their operation,” said Bingham. “Because these products are not traditionally applied during their own dedicated trip to the orchard, we wanted to develop a formulation that could play well with fungicides, insecticides or other fertilizer applications.” 

OPTRIENT™ MoCo-Ni was designed to fill that gap in the industry. This innovative liquid foliar product delivers a precise combination of molybdenum, cobalt and nickel, boosting the tree’s ability to use nitrogen efficiently and improve pistachio production.

The benefits extend beyond nutrient metabolism. By improving nitrogen efficiency, it:

• Increases nut size, ensuring a higher proportion of larger, marketable pistachios.
• Enhances split nut percentages, reducing the number of unsplit or blank nuts.
• Maximizes marketable yield, directly impacting grower profit potential. 

“OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is effective and convenient, saving growers time and effort while ensuring they get the most out of their nitrogen investment,” Bingham emphasized. 

Proven Pistachio Results with OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni

Data from 2024 trials conducted in key pistachio-growing regions highlights the value of OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni. In these studies, the product was shown to:

• Increase pistachio yield potential by as much as 305 lbs per acre over the control.
• Increase split nut percentages by as much as 11% over the control.
• Decrease blank nut percentages by up to 4.5% over the control.
• Improve nut size by up to 12% over the control.

Pistachio Yield Increased¹

Pistachio yield potential increased by as much as 305 pounds over the control when using OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni. 

Pistachio Split Nut (%) Increased¹

According to this study, when applied at bud swell through kernel fill, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni can increase pistachio split nut percent by as much as 11% over the control. 

Pistachio Blank Nut (%) Decreased²

In this study in Woodland, California, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni decreased the percent of pistachio blank nuts by as much as 4.5% compared to the control. 

Increased Pistachio Nut Size¹

This study shows that OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni can increase the size of pistachio nuts by as much as 12% compared to the control, increasing the crop’s marketable yield. 

A Proactive Approach to Pistachio Profitability

For pistachio growers, every decision impacts the bottom line. By addressing the specific nutritional needs of pistachio trees with a targeted application of molybdenum, cobalt and nickel, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni helps growers support higher marketable yields. This proactive approach to crop nutrition helps address the challenges of unsplit nuts and nut size, maximizing the return on a grower's nitrogen investment.

To see how this targeted nutrition fits into a larger seasonal plan, explore the value of OPTRIENT in nut trees.

OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is not registered for sale or use in all states. 

The underlying data was provided by ¹Mari Agricultural Research and  ²SYSMA under a Research Trial Financial Support Agreement with Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. Neither these institutions, nor the individual researchers referenced, endorse or recommend any product or service.  Improvements in yield and nutrient use efficiency may not be observed in all cases.