OPTRIENT™ MoCo-Ni Means Proven Nutrient Success for Nut Producers
Tree nut production is one of the most demanding and high-investment sectors in specialty agriculture. Growers balance the pressures of water management, regulatory oversight, rising input costs and the biological complexities of perennial crops that take years to reach full production. In that context, every decision matters — from nutrient management to bloom timing to harvest strategy. And when it comes to profitability, the details that determine nut size, split percentage and flower retention can have effects across an orchard’s entire return on investment.
For many tree crop growers, nitrogen management sits at the center of these challenges. Without efficient nitrogen use, trees struggle to achieve optimal yield and quality. That inefficiency doesn’t just leave potential in the field — it directly impacts profitability. Supporting nitrogen metabolism with the right micronutrient blend at the right time has proven to be an effective way to bridge this gap. That’s where OPTRIENT™ MoCo-Ni comes in.
This innovative foliar formulation from Koch Agronomic Services (KAS) delivers molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) in a ready-to-use liquid designed to improve nitrogen efficiency, reduce stress and enhance performance across a variety of crops. Backed by real-world grower experiences and agronomic trials, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is helping producers maximize marketable yield and strengthen long-term resilience.
Why Molybdenum, Cobalt and Nickel Matter
Micronutrients may be needed in smaller quantities than primary nutrients, but their role is critical. Each of the elements in the OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni blend plays an important function in plant performance:
Molybdenum: Aids in nitrogen utilization, an essential component in converting nitrate into ammonium in the plant.
Cobalt: Promotes cell division in plants and mitigates plant stress.
Nickel:A component of metabolizing plant enzymes.
By ensuring improved nitrogen use efficiency and mitigating stress, the blend doesn’t just support plant health — it positions nut trees to achieve the flower retention and quality that drive profit.
Almonds: Bloom Strength, Retention and Healthier Dormancy
Almonds are a cornerstone of California agriculture; therefore, an effective nutrient management plan is essential to optimizing orchard potential. For almond growers, bloom strength and flower retention are directly tied to yield. Research and drone imagery confirmed OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni delivers measurable improvements.
Aerial imagery proves performance
In 2023, KAS worked with aerialPLOT to conduct replicated almond trials in San Joaquin and Chico, California. Using high-resolution drone imagery, the study showed that trees treated with OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni post-almond harvest displayed a stronger, more uniform bloom in the spring compared to untreated controls. Notably, the imagery confirmed that the advantage wasn’t just earlier bloom. Treated trees maintained more flowers throughout the entire bloom cycle.
Figure 1 visually compares the bloom measurements between treated and untreated trees. The prominence of red and yellow hues indicates a higher bloom. This was true in images collected at 10-20% bloom and again at 75-100% bloom.1
Figure 1:
This extended window matters. More flowers and longer retention mean more opportunities for successful pollination, which ultimately drives yield potential.The same imagery revealed another benefit: reduced defoliation. Trees treated with OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni experienced 15% less defoliation, retaining more leaves to give the tree more time to translocate more energy leading into dormancy.
“We now have data to show that the healthier we can keep trees going into dormancy, the healthier they will be when they come out in the spring,” said TJ Bingham, technical agronomist for KAS.
Validation in the Marketplace
Beyond the agronomic science, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni has delivered proven performance in the field.
“OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni can really help growers during the pre-bloom and blooming season,” said Mackenzie Chambers, territory business manager for KAS. “By keeping those flowers viable for a longer timeframe, bees have increased opportunities to pollinate, which has a direct correlation to yield.”
Those who work directly with growers are also seeing that positive performance in the orchard.
“In products containing molybdenum, cobalt and nickel, I have seen a consistent yield increase when used between pink bud and full bloom,” said Dustin Peton, sales manager at North Valley Ag Services. “On average, these nutrients have led to a yield increase of about 250 to 350 pounds per acre with both ideal bloom weather and with poor weather conditions.”
Trial data reinforces these experiences. Figure 2 shows where a 2023 almond study showed OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni increased almond yields by 422 lbs/ac2 when applied at pink bud and leaf out, with additional applications also delivering significant gains over untreated controls.
Figure 2:
Together, the imagery, field trials and grower testimonials create a compelling almond story: OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni reduces plant stress, strengthens bloom and improves flower retention, resulting in measurable yield gains.
Pistachios: Driving Marketable Yield Through Nitrogen Efficiency
For pistachio growers, profitability depends not just on yield but on the quality and marketability of harvested nuts. Unsplit or blank nuts can reduce value, while larger nut size and higher split percentages capture premiums in the marketplace. Achieving these results requires highly efficient nitrogen utilization.
Addressing Unsplit and Blank Nuts
One of the challenges in pistachio production is the percentage of nuts that fail to split naturally or remain blank. These nuts lower the average market price and reduce overall profitability. By improving nitrogen use efficiency, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni helps reduce these losses.
Enhancing Nut Size and Split Percentage
Trial data from 2024 pistachio studies conducted in key growing regions showed that OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni applications increased nut size by as much as 12% and raised split nut percentages by up to 11% compared to untreated controls. At the same time, blank nut percentages decreased by as much as 4.5%. These combined effects directly translate into a more marketable yield.
Yield and Profit Potential
In terms of overall productivity, pistachio yield potential increased by up to 305 pounds per acre compared to the control3 as shown in Figure 3.
“If you’re not properly using all the nitrogen you’re applying, you’re not maximizing your yield potential,” said Bingham.
Figure 3:
Convenience also matters. OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni was formulated to be tank-mix compatible, allowing growers to apply it alongside fungicides, insecticides or other fertilizers without requiring additional trips through the orchard. That efficiency saves both time and money while ensuring trees get the micronutrients they need.
Pecan growers also face the challenge of maintaining tree health consistently across the season, from leaf-out through dormancy. In a 2024 Georgia study, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni demonstrated measurable improvements in canopy development and nitrogen content. In the study, drone imagery revealed that trees treated at leaf-out statistically achieved an 8.5% higher canopy fill rate compared to untreated trees.4 That early advantage translated into better vigor through the growing season, with treated trees also recording a 5% greater change in leaf nitrogen between August and pre-leaf drop drone imagery flights.4
Vegetative health benefits were also evident in normalized difference red edge (NDRE) measurements. In Figure 4, you can see that trees applied with OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni at leaf-out showed stronger nitrogen content during the August drone imagery flight and maintained a healthier status into dormancy. Across the season, NDRE scores were 2.2% higher than the control, confirming that treated pecan trees were better equipped to store and mobilize energy for the following year’s crop.4 These results underscore the product’s role not only in supporting yield but also in building the resilience needed for long-term orchard performance.
Figure 4:
Beyond Almonds, Pistachios and Pecans: Versatility Across Crops
While almonds and pistachios offer strong proof points, the roles of molybdenum, cobalt and nickel extend beyond a single crop. Nitrogen is essential in every production system, and the ability to support its efficient use creates opportunities across diverse acres.
Trials and grower experiences with OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni are expanding into peanuts, cotton, sugar beets and other crops. Early results point to healthier, greener plants with stronger vegetative growth — benefits that lay the groundwork for higher yields.
“Across the board, we’re getting the right nutrients in the right place to make the nitrogen processes more efficient for the plant — which means a better result for the grower,” Bingham said.
A Proven Product for Growers
Tree crop production leaves little margin for error. When input decisions determine whether flowers are pollinated, nuts reach marketable size or trees carry enough energy into dormancy, growers need solutions that deliver measurable results.
Across nut trees, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni has demonstrated its ability to:
Strengthen bloom and improve flower retention.
Enhance nitrogen efficiency to drive nut size and split percentage.
Reduce stress, defoliation and premature nut drop.
Translate these physiological benefits into higher yields and improved profitability.
For growers, the message is clear. OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is effective and convenient, saving time and effort while ensuring growers get the most out of their investment — helping orchards reach their full potential.
Get Ready to BOOST Your Yields
With proven results across multiple nut crops and growing evidence in others, OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is positioned to help tree crop growers capture more yield, more marketable product and more profit potential.
Ready to see how OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni can fit into your orchard program? Visit the OPTRIENT page to learn more about the formulation, review trial data and connect with your local KAS representative.
The underlying data was provided by 1aerialPlot, 2Sysma Agriculture Research, 3Mari Agricultural Research and 4aerialPlot under a Research Trial Financial Support Agreement with Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. Neither these institutions, nor the individual researchers referenced, endorse or recommend any product or service. Improvements in yield and nutrient use efficiency may not be observed in all cases.
OPTRIENT MoCo-Ni is not registered for sale or use in all states.
