Turkmen specialists in the Karakum desert conduct scientific and practical work on growing pistachio and almond trees.
This year is the final fifth year of the scientific and practical work of specialists from the laboratory of forests and pastures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan’s National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna.
The scientific and practical work of the scientists is related to the cultivation of pistachios and almonds in extreme desert conditions at the Karrykul site located in the southern outskirts of Central Karakum desert using underground and atmospheric waters. Pistachio and almond trees have been grown here for over the past four years. In the course of the work, scientists studied the plant’s ability to cope with extreme air temperatures and determined methods for maintaining moisture in the soil.
“Counteractive measures against rodents, which could harm plants, were also studied. In order to improve the condition of the earth, the holes were covered with a layer of sand mixed with organic matter,” said the head of the laboratory Guvanch Atahanov regarding the cultivation of seedlings.
This year, the scientists plan to study the methods of plant conservation and present the results of the study in recommendations for growing pistachio and almond trees in desert conditions.
