Apricot is a product that has spread to Europe, America and Africa continents and found growing areas in countries close to the Mediterranean, although its production is distributed almost all over the world.
According to FAO data, apricot production is carried out on an area of 536 thousand hectares in the world as of 2017, and 23.3% of this production area is in Turkey.
Turkey is followed by Algeria, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. World fresh apricot production increased by 13.0% in 2017 compared to the previous year and amounted to approximately 4.3 million tons. Turkey ranks first in world fresh apricot production with 985 thousand tons , while Uzbekistan ranks second with 533 thousand tons and Italy ranks third with 266 thousand tons of production.
According to 2018 data; While 109 thousand tons of a total of 462 thousand tons of fresh apricot exports in the world are made by Spain, Suriname ranks second with 89 thousand tons and Turkey ranks third with 71 thousand tons of exports. A total of 139 thousand tons of dried apricots are exported in the world, of which 94 thousand tons (67.6%) were realized by Turkey.
Turkey is followed by Tajikistan with 7.9% and Uzbekistan with 5.4% in dried apricot exports. According to 2018 data, 15.6% of 381 thousand tons of world fresh apricot imports are made by Germany, followed by the Russian Federation with a share of 11.5% and Iraq with a share of 9.9%. In the world's total imports of dried apricots, the USA ranks first with 14 thousand tons of imports, while Russia and England are in the second place with 11 thousand tons.
Turkey, which ranks first in the world's dried apricot production, has a great potential due to both apricot gene resources and ecological conditions. Fresh apricot production in Turkey fluctuates over the years. The most important reason for these fluctuations in apricot production is late spring frosts as in many parts of the world.
Apricot fields ; In the 2018/19 production season in Turkey, apricot production was realized on an area of 1.27 million decares, including zerdali. Although there was no significant change in the number of apricot trees over the years, the total number of trees increased by 5.2% in the 2018/19 production period compared to the previous year and reached 17.7 million.
Apricot production ; In the 2018/19 production season, 770 thousand tons of apricot production was realized in Turkey, including zerdali. Malatya, which has an important place in apricot production, realized 52.1% of Turkey's production with a production of 401 thousand tons. After Malatya, Mersin is in the second place in apricot production with 11.6%, and Elazig is in the third place with 6.7%. While Malatya ranks first in dried apricot production in Turkey, other important provinces are Elazig, Sivas, Kahramanmaraş and Mersin.
In order to register Malatya apricot as a geographical indication by the EU, an application was made by the Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2014, and after a three-year process, in July 2017, “Malatya apricot” was registered as a geographical indication by the EU.
Apricot Export in Turkey
According to the 11-month data of 2019, Turkey, which ranks first in the world's dried apricot exports, accounts for 37.9 percent of 90 thousand tons of exports, and 79% of 68 thousand tons of fresh apricot exports to five countries, including the USA, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation. He made 4 of them to the Russian Federation and Iraq.
According to TUIK data, the producer price of fresh apricots increased by 27.05% in 2019 compared to the previous year and realized as 3.34 TL/kg. Fresh apricot consumer prices, on the other hand, increased by 20.50% in 2019 compared to the previous year and amounted to 6.69 TL/kg. Dried apricot consumer prices increased by 21.92% in 2019 compared to the previous year and reached 35.21 TL/kg. Stock market prices increased by 12.70% compared to the previous year and amounted to 12.60 TL/kg.
Since 2005, farmers who have established new apricot orchards using certified and standard saplings for the development of apricot production have been supported per decare within the framework of the legislation prepared every year. In order to reduce the input costs of apricot producers, to increase their competitiveness in the foreign market, to ensure continuity in production; In 2018, 15 TL/da of diesel support, 4 TL/da of chemical fertilizer support and 40 TL of soil analysis support are provided. In addition, organic apricot growers have a group certificate of 70 TL/da for the producers who have an individual certificate within the scope of the 2nd category, 35 TL/da for the producers with group certificates, and 40 TL/da for those who have an individual certificate within the scope of the 2nd category for the apricot producers who practice good agricultural practices. producers are supported at 20 TL/da.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution provides 50-65% grant support for investments in fruit and vegetable processing and marketing within the scope of IPARD. Up to 50% grant support is provided to private sector projects by Development Agencies.
Apricot Input Parities
In 2019, producer prices of fresh apricots increased by 27.1% compared to the previous year. Parallel to this increase in apricot prices, there was an increase of 20.7 percent in fertilizer prices and 11.2% in diesel prices. In 2019, the increase in fertilizer and diesel prices was lower than the increase in apricot prices. In 2019, there was an increase of 5.4 in the fertilizer parity and 14.3 in the diesel parity, excluding the supports. In the parity calculations made by including the supports, an increase of 5.4% in fertilizer and 14.4 in diesel is observed.
Apricot cultivation is carried out intensively in Mediterranean countries and Europe, and a significant amount of apricot production is also carried out in Iran, Uzbekistan and Algeria. Despite the large number of apricot species and varieties grown in different climatic conditions, world fresh apricot production is still at very low levels. According to FAO data, as of 2017, approximately 4.3 million tons of fresh apricots are produced in an area of 536 thousand hectares in the world, and the yield per hectare is 7,942 kilograms.
Considering the world population, the amount of fresh apricots per capita is very low, about 0.5 kg. Turkey, which ranks first in the world's dried apricot production, has a great potential in terms of both genetic resources and production areas, and both the number of trees and the amount of production are constantly increasing.
According to TURKSTAT Crop Production Statistics; In 2019, fresh apricot production in Turkey increased by 12.2%, including cherries, compared to the previous year, and amounted to 864 thousand tons.
A significant part of the produced apricot is considered as dried apricot. Apricots, which are not dried, are generally consumed in the domestic market in the table and fruit juice industry.
The sweet kernels of apricot kernels are used as snacks, and the bitter kernels are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. As Malatya is an important apricot production center, Turkey has a special place in the export of dried apricots. In this province, which provides more than half of Turkey's fresh apricot production, production is concentrated on dried apricots, a significant part of the produced apricots are dried and approximately 90% of the dried apricots are exported.
The most effective way to protect from late spring frosts, which is the most important problem in apricot cultivation, is not to establish an apricot orchard in damp, bottom lands where there is danger of frost, and in valleys where cold air accumulates. However, if an apricot orchard is established in a region with frost risk, wind fans reduce the risk of frost by changing the direction of the wind. In addition, it is stated that the correct irrigation to be made when there is a risk of frost with drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation methods is effective against frost.
Considering all these, fluctuations in the amount of apricot production will be prevented to a great extent and price stability will be ensured accordingly. In addition, the sulphurization process with traditional methods causes problems in exports.
A significant part of the apricot produced in the world is consumed as table. However, due to the short harvest period and the rapid deterioration of fresh apricots, apricots are mostly used by drying or processing. Apricots are used in confectionery, liquor, pastry, yoghurt and ice cream industries by freezing, canning, removing pulp, nectar and making jam, marmalade, jelly and cream. Sweet apricot kernels are consumed as snacks, and bitter ones are used as raw materials in the cosmetics industry.
Since the fruits of the apricot trees grown on the bottom and moist soils are juicy, large and the amount of dry matter is low, the varieties grown in these soils are suitable for table use. On the other hand, since the fruits of apricot trees grown in barren soils are small and have high dry matter and low water content, such varieties are mostly used for drying. Fruit trees like loamy, sandy-loam and loamy-calcareous soils. Since its roots will go deep, it should be at least 2-4 m from the ground water. It must be in depth. Otherwise, tree roots will be damaged by suffocation and they will get gum disease. Drainage ditches must be dug in areas with high ground water.
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In addition to being productive and having high fruit quality, its compatibility with cultivars gives satisfactory results in terms of nematode, lime and drought resistance. Vaccine incompatibility is rare. Since it is completely immune to root knot nematode, apricot seed rootstocks should be used in places infested with nematodes.
It is a plum rootstock. Its roots develop superficially in the first years, and go deep in the following years. It is propagated by cuttings and forms strong trees. It is moderately susceptible to root collar rot and bacterial canker. Its immunity against root knot nematode is strong. It is a good rootstock for intensive planting and high productivity. It adapts well to soils of various structures. It is resistant to calcareous soils. It has moderate resistance to drought. Planting distance is 5x4 meters. It is the common rootstock for apricot, almond, plum. It shows graft incompatibility with some apricot cultivars.
It can be used as rootstock for apricots and peaches. Some apricot varieties have a problem of compatibility with work. It is a weak rootstock suitable for frequent planting. More than 100 trees can be planted per decare. In addition to its stunting feature, apricot varieties grafted on it will bear fruit earlier, fruit size and sugar content increase. It provides earliness in maturation. It has been determined that although it produces a quality and sufficient product, it gives more bottom shoots.
Since apricot trees are damaged by late spring frosts, ridges and slopes should be preferred rather than plains and pits where cold air sits.
Frost damage can be reduced to some extent with the following applications in late spring frosts in apricot orchards.
- Valleys and pits where the cold air is concentrated should not be preferred for the garden plant.
- Frost-resistant varieties with late blooming and long winter dormancy should be selected.
- In places where there is a risk of frost, trees should be crowned as high as possible.
- Excessive and late irrigation should be avoided.
- Tillage should be done either in the fall or in the late spring.
- Trees should be well fed, untimely and excessive nitrogen fertilization should be avoided.
- In order not to weaken the trees, disease and pest control should be done.
- Flowering can be delayed with growth regulators.
- With the onset of frost, measures such as spraying small particles of water on the tree crown, fogging and fuming by burning straw, straw and old tires, heating the garden with frost stoves, mixing the cold air with large fans to prevent frosts at -2, -3 °C. can be effective against
In apricots, shoots and flower buds need a certain cooling period in order to emerge from winter rest. The flower buds of the trees that do not meet the need for chilling fall and irregular awakening is observed in the leaf buds. When choosing apricot varieties and transporting apricot varieties from one region to another, it should be known in advance whether they will meet the need for chilling. In regions where Mediterranean climate prevails, varieties with short cooling needs should be selected. Dried apricot varieties require longer cooling times than table and early-season varieties. Winter cooling requirement is the sum of the hours passed below +7.2 °C. The chilling times of some apricot varieties are listed below.
Tillage in Apricot
The soil in the apricot orchards is 15-20 cm in autumn. It is useful to make a tillage, taking care not to damage the deep roots. Because the cultivated apricot orchards hold the rain and snow waters in winter better, the trees are healthy and productive. Flower and fruit shedding may increase due to root damage in soil tillage during flowering or small fruit period. Therefore, tillage should be avoided in this circuit.
Soil and climate conditions, the amount of water given during irrigation, the slope of the land and the amount of product on the tree are effective on the number and time of irrigation. Deep clay and heavy soils are watered less frequently, less deep sandy and filtered soils are watered more frequently. If the amount of fruit on the tree increases and the air temperatures are high, the number of irrigation must be increased. If the irrigation is stopped early in the period when the air temperatures are high, the flower buds cannot complete the development of the apricot trees, the number of flowers blooming in the next spring decreases, and the flower and fruit shedding increases. When the apricot trees are given too much water in heavy clay soils with high ground water, the trees produce gum, the leaves become smaller, turn yellow and dry over time. However, in sandy soils that do not hold water, excess water causes an increase in fruit size and a decrease in the amount of dry matter.
If the apricot orchard is irrigated with the drip irrigation system, the fertilization of the orchard should be given with drip irrigation within a program as a result of the soil analysis to be made. In areas where flood irrigation is applied, 2/3 of the nitrogen fertilizers should be given 15-20 days before flowering in the spring, and the remaining 1/3 should be applied 1-1.5 months before the harvest (the period when the seed hardens and turns black). In order for phosphorus and potash fertilizers to be taken up by plants, a period of 2.5-3 months must pass after they are placed in the soil. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers should be given in autumn when the apricot trees shed their leaves. Farm fertilizers are also given together with phosphorus and potash fertilizers in the autumn season.
Planting Pruning
Root pruning is done before planting apricot seedlings. In root pruning; Wounded, broken, entangled roots are removed. Long roots are shortened according to the size of the planting pit. Excessive pruning of the roots is inconvenient. Because when the eyes start to sprout in the spring, the nutrients needed will be obtained primarily from the stored nutrients. In crown pruning, the side branches on the trunk are cut from the bottom with pruning shears and removed. Apricot seedlings are cut at a height of 80-120 cm on an incline over an eye.
Apricot trees are generally given one of the shapes of tapestry, apex branched and different apex branched.
After the apricot is in the crop, no more pruning is done. Only diseased, broken branches that interfere with light penetration should be cut. In severe pruning, apricot trees remove gum. If the thick branch cutting continues, the apricot tree may turn yellow and dry over time. If thick branch cutting is absolutely necessary in apricot trees, pruning should be spread over 2-3 years, all thick branches should not be cut in the same year. Apricot trees that have fallen out of yield should not be pruned, but should be improved with good care and appropriate cultural measures such as irrigation, fertilization.
The dilution in apricots is made in tableware. The best dilution time is when the core begins to harden. During dilution, small fruits should be plucked, large ones should be left and diluted at a distance of 4-8 cm.
- Dried Varieties: Hacıhaliloğlu, Kabaaşı, Soğancı, Çataloğlu, Çöloğlu
- Table Types: Ninfa, P.Tyrinthe, Piriana, Hasanbey, Tokaloğlu, Çağataybey, Şalak (Iğdır-Aprikoz), Şekerpare, Alyanak, Roksana, P.Colomer.
Harvesting is done gradually, as all apricot fruits do not ripen on the tree at the same time. On the tree, first the fruits on the upper branches, then the fruits on the middle branches and finally the lower branches ripen. Harvesting is normally done in three times according to this ripening order.
Apricot ripening begins at the tip of the fruit. In general, the harvest time is understood by the easy detachment of the fruit from the branch, the yellow color of ¾ of the bark surface and the yellow color of ½ of the fruit flesh. While determining the harvest time for table apricots, the distance of the market to which the apricots will be sent and the consumption period should be taken into consideration. During the harvest, the fruit flesh of table apricots should not be crushed when pressed with a finger, but the green fruit color should turn into a yellow color specific to apricot. If table apricots are harvested early, they are not sweetened enough and fall behind in terms of color and aroma. If the harvest is delayed, since the ripening will progress, the fruits deteriorate quickly during harvest and transportation and the waiting time in the market is shortened.
In general, table and canned apricots are hard ripe, dried apricots are fully ripe, and apricots to be sent to the nearby market are harvested between these two maturity levels.
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