Forest plantation trial with 14 almond genotypes under rainfed condition at Arak area of Iran

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill) D. A. Webb.) is a cultivated tree, which can be used as a multipurpose tree for forest plantation on degraded lands of natural resources. In this research project, 23 genotypes of almond were collected from different sites of Arak province of Iran and sown in Arak Natural Resources Experimental Station nursery, 50 km west of Arak. After two years, the seedlings of 14 genotypes, which were selected as elite genotypes within the 23 genotypes, were planted on a virgin site at the station under rainfed condition and under the statistical design of Randomized Complete Blocks. The results showed that the genotype G3 with average height of 116.3 cm and the genotypes G9 and G11 with average height of 59.5 and 64.3 cm, respectively obtained the tallest and the shortest height, respectively. According to diameter data analysis, the genotypes G3 and G14 with average diameter of 24.97 and 10 mm, respectively had the greatest and the lowest diameter, respectively. The diameter growth of the genotypes G2, G4 and G5 was interesting. According to survival data analysis, the genotype G1 with average survival of 79.8% and the genotypes G7, G10 and G11 with average survival of 46.7%, 49% and 48.3%, respectively had the lowest and the greatest mortality, respectively.  In addition, the genotypes G8, G4 and G6 with average survival of 73.3, 71.8 and 70.8 percent, respectively had the lowest mortality in comparison to the other genotypes rather than the genotype G1.  The following seven genotypes are recommended for forest plantation under rainfed condition or limited irrigation at severe drought periods, on marginal lands of Markazi province of Iran where are ecologically similar to the Experimental Station of Arak (321 mm mean annual rainfall, 1800 m. above sea level altitude, 13.2 C° mean daily temperature, cold-semi arid according to the modified DeMartin Climate Classification System and deep clay sandy loam soil type): Genotypes G1, G5 and G6 with Arak seed origin; Genotypes G2, G3 and G7 with Khomain seed origin; Genotype G4 with Deligan seed origin.