The Effects of NaCl Solution Application Frequency on Hazelnut Sucker Management

Hazelnut is a nut species that is strategically important to Türkiye. Hazelnut cultivation has various cost factors, with the highest share belonging to the harvesting. Following harvesting, sucker management, and fertilization are the most significant cost factors. Due to high labor requirements and costs, sucker removal, which is recommended to be performed twice a year, is often conducted only once a year or every two years. This situation leads to reduced yield per hectare and income loss for producers. To reduce costs, some growers use herbicides to remove hazelnut suckers. However, the widespread use of herbicides causes irreversible environmental damage and can lead to erosion, particularly on sloped lands. Moreover, the continuous use of herbicides poses risks such as leaving residues in the soil, harming soil microorganisms, and threatening the health of hazelnut plants. This research aimed to determine the effects of the application frequency of a 15% salt (NaCl) solution on hazelnut sucker removal, focusing on its impact on soil EC and pH. The research was conducted at the Ondokuz Mayıs University Ali Nihat Gökyiğit Research Station from 2019 to 2021. NaCl solution applications were planned to be performed once, twice, and three times a year. The effects of application frequency on the drying rate of suckers, the number and length of newly emerged suckers, and changes in soil pH and EC were evaluated. The results revealed that applying the NaCl solution three times a year was the most effective method for sucker management and did not cause adverse changes in soil pH or EC levels.