Find the Words: Orchard Language
A quick word search to help you recognise common orchard terms. This is a warm-up activity — no definitions here. Use the glossary on this page if you want more detail.
Orchard Language – Glossary
BROADCAST
Fertiliser spread evenly over the entire orchard soil surface.
COMPACTION
Increased soil density caused by soil particles being pressed together, often due to machinery traffic.
EROSION
The movement and loss of soil caused by water, wind, or management practices.
HUSK
The outer green covering of the macadamia nut, removed during dehusking.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Plant nutrients required in very small amounts, such as boron, zinc, iron, and manganese.
MONITORING
Regular checking of trees, flowers, and nuts for pests, diseases, and general condition.
IMMOBILISATION
When soil organisms take up nitrogen, making it temporarily unavailable to plants.
SALINITY
The level of dissolved salts in soil or water.
AGGREGATE
A group of soil particles (sand, silt, and clay) bound together.
STRUCTURE
How soil particles are arranged and how well they bind together.
TEXTURE
The proportion of sand, silt, and clay in a soil.
PHYTOPHTHORA
A soil-borne disease organism that attacks roots and can cause tree decline.
NIS
Nut-in-shell; whole macadamia nuts measured with the shell intact, usually at 10% moisture.
SKR
Sound kernel recovery; the percentage of fully developed, defect-free kernel.
SOC
Soil organic carbon; the carbon component of organic matter in soil.
SOM
Soil organic matter; living and dead plant and animal material in the soil.
PH
A measure of acidity or alkalinity in soil or water on a scale from 0 to 14.
Reference
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
Macadamia Grower’s Guide: New Orchards
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1475984/Macadamia-Growers-Guide-new-orchards.pdf
