Resumo

RODRIGUES*, M. Ângelo; BARREIRA, João C.M.; FERREIRA, Isabel C.F.R.  e  BENTO, Albino. Almond tree: a quantitative approach to the availability of by-products. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2020, vol.43, n.spe2, pp.41-50.  Epub 01-Dez-2020. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.19712.

Almond was once one of the main export products from the agricultural sector in Portugal. However, the growing presence on the world market of almonds produced in California at very low prices and the depopulation of rural areas, especially since the 1970s, led to the progressive abandonment of almond cultivation. Almond tree [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb], however, has never ceased to be an emblematic species in Portugal. Although with low economic value it continued to create stunning landscapes, with its early flowering, attracting tourists to the inland, in particular to the Douro Valley and tributaries, where it has always maintained some value for the family income. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in this species. The increase in the consumption of almonds worldwide has created conditions for prices to remain a little more attractive than in previous years, which, together with the general failure of the dryland arable sector (cereals in particular) in the inland of the country, has stimulated the appearance of new plantations of almond trees. The phenomenon is particularly relevant in Alentejo, associated to the new irrigation infrastructures, with intensive plantations, but also in Trás-os-Montes, where rainfed orchards prevail. The almond tree has been valued for the edible part of the nut and occasionally in winter tourist routes associated with flowering, as mentioned. However, several by-products of the almond tree can be valorized, especially those that present greater quantitative expression such as hull (2000 t year-1), shell (9000 t year-1), tegument (120 t year-1) and pruning wood (25000 t year-1). In this work, an estimate is made of the quantity of the by-products produced in Portugal and clues for their potential uses presented.

Palavras-chave : Prunus dulcis; pruning wood; shell; hull; leaves.

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