In some almond producing areas of California, under-tree sprinkler irrigation is becoming increasingly popular for frost protection. Water applied for such frost protection during the early growth period has been observed to also have a marked effect on almond production that cannot be accounted for by frost protection alone. Among the effects-noted have been increased yield, larger kernel (meat) size, greater shoot growth, and delayed nut maturity. A project was started in 1968 to determine whether these previous observations could be experimentally substantiated, since only limited evidence has been available to show that these factors were related to early-season moisture supply.

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James Pearson, Staff Research Associate, James Yeager, Staff Research Associate, and Ernie Roncoroni, Staff Research Associate, University of California, Davis, also assisted on this project. Earl Decker, grower and Joe Richter, Durham Pump Shop, Durham, California also cooperated in these tests.