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Walnut (Akhrot)All seasonsGrafted plantUpdated 6 September 2026

CITH Walnut-6

An ICAR-CITH Srinagar chance-seedling selection prized for high yield and superior nut quality with a strong shelling percentage of about 51%.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodFirst bearing in 4–5 years (grafted)
Expected yieldHigh, among the better-shelling ICAR-CITH releases
Suitable soilDeep, well-drained temperate orchard loam; genuinely intolerant of waterlogging

Quick facts

Crop
Walnut (Akhrot)
Type
Grafted plant
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
First bearing in 4–5 years (grafted)
Expected yield
High, among the better-shelling ICAR-CITH releases
Suitable soil
Deep, well-drained temperate orchard loam; genuinely intolerant of waterlogging
Release
ICAR-CITH, Srinagar

About this variety

CITH Walnut-6 is one of a series of walnut selections released by ICAR-CITH (Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture), Srinagar, from its elite genotype selection programme, which has identified and released ten walnut selections to date from a much larger pool of evaluated chance-seedling trees. CITH Walnut-6 originated as a chance-seedling selection — a naturally occurring seedling tree identified for superior performance and then propagated by grafting rather than bred through controlled crossing — and is documented as high-yielding with superior nut quality traits, including a strong shelling percentage of about 51%, a genuinely useful figure for the kernel trade. ICAR-CITH recommends it across the wider north-western Himalayan temperate agro-ecosystem rather than for one district alone, meaning it is suited to Kashmir valley, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand orchard sites that share the region's general chilling and altitude profile. As a grafted release, it bears considerably sooner than a seedling tree and reproduces its nut and shelling characteristics true-to-type.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeGrafted plant
    MaturityFirst bearing in 4–5 years (grafted)
    Yield potentialHigh, among the better-shelling ICAR-CITH releases
    Disease resistanceNot specifically documented
    SoilDeep, well-drained temperate orchard loam; genuinely intolerant of waterlogging
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Spacing8 × 8 m under traditional planting; closer high-density spacing (6 × 6 m) is used with intensive management
  • FertilizerA balanced NPK dose while young, moving to a higher, pre-spring-growth-and-post-harvest-split dose once bearing (see the crop guide for the full schedule)

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Deep, well-drained loam; pH roughly 6.0–7.5; genuinely intolerant of waterlogged or heavy ground

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

First bearing in 4–5 years (grafted)

Expected yield

High, among the better-shelling ICAR-CITH releases

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

Major pests

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • A strong shelling percentage of about 51%, a genuinely useful figure for kernel-trade returns.
  • Recommended across the wider north-western Himalayan temperate belt rather than a single district, giving it a broader fit than a narrowly local selection.
  • ICAR-CITH-backed nursery material provides a genuine institutional source for grafted planting stock.

Things to consider

  • No India-specific documented disease-resistance data has been confirmed for CITH Walnut-6 specifically — manage it with the same preventive copper-spray programme against walnut blight as any other walnut planting.
  • Confirm current nursery availability through ICAR-CITH Srinagar before planning a large planting.

Suitable regions

An ICAR-CITH Srinagar release recommended across the wider north-western Himalayan temperate belt rather than one district alone, covering Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

  • Jammu and Kashmir
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Uttarakhand

Frequently asked questions

What does "chance-seedling selection" mean for CITH Walnut-6?

It means the variety began as a naturally occurring seedling tree — grown from an uncontrolled cross, not a planned breeding programme — that ICAR-CITH researchers identified for genuinely superior nut and yield traits during field surveys, and then propagated by grafting so every planted tree reproduces that same performance rather than the variable outcome a fresh seedling would give.

Sourced from: Released Varieties — ICAR-CITH, Quality Planting Material Production in Walnut — ICAR-CITH, Srinagar. editorial policy.