Albacete authorizes drip irrigation modernization for 193 hectares of pistachio trees

The Provincial Delegation for Sustainable Development of Albacete has resolved that the project for the consolidation and improvement of irrigation through modernization to drip irrigation and the planting of pistachio trees on the Pozo Majano estate does not need to undergo an Ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment, as it is estimated that it does not produce significant effects on the environment. The decision, signed on August 14, 2026, by the provincial delegate María Llanos Valero Hernández, is published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha on August 25, 2026, with reference 2026/6232 and file S478/2026/AB/00092.

The action, promoted by the company Latitud 38 Agro SL, affects 193.5419 hectares located in plot 1 of polygon 55 and plot 33 of polygon 54 of the municipality of Albacete. The project falls under Annex II, Group 1, section c) 1.º of the Law 2/2020, of February 7, on Environmental Assessment of Castilla-La Mancha, which subjects consolidation and improvement projects for irrigation on areas exceeding 100 hectares to a simplified assessment.

A change of crop and irrigation system

The estate, currently dedicated to cereals, vegetables, and almond trees under sprinkler irrigation, will be transformed into a woody crop of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), main variety Sirora grafted onto UCB-1 rootstock, with Randy and Pioneer Gold pollinators in a 1:14 ratio and a triangular planting frame of 6 × 4 meters. Irrigation will change from sprinkler to high-efficiency drip irrigation, with self-compensating drippers of 2.3 l/h.

The change does not imply an increase in the concessional volume granted by the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, which remains at 1,063,200 m³/year (file 1988IC2214, UGH AB0015). Furthermore, an effective reduction in consumption is estimated, given the higher efficiency of drip irrigation (90-92%) compared to sprinkler irrigation (70-75%). The irrigation is supplied by 10 boreholes from the Mancha Oriental groundwater body, the concession of which belongs to Energética Albacete S.L.

Environmental impacts and measures

The report identifies the main impact as the functional loss of habitat for steppe avifauna (great bustard, little bustard, mongolian kestrels) due to the change from a cereal mosaic to a woody crop, an effect classified as compatible-moderate. To mitigate this, preparation and planting work must be carried out between October 1 and February 28, avoiding the breeding season (March 1 to June 30), unless the absence of nests is verified beforehand.

The conditions include, among others, the following requirements:

• Control of extracted volume through volumetric meters with remote reading and adjustment to the concessional ceiling.
• Reduction of nitrogen fertilization (from 200-300 to 100-150 kg N/ha·year) and application of the nitrate vulnerable zones program.
• Speed limit of 30 km/h, watering of roads, and work during daytime hours to minimize dust and noise.
• Respect for boundaries, livestock paths, and a 5-meter non-tilled corridor, with a recommendation for nest boxes for insectivorous birds.
• Archaeological control subject to the authorizable visa of the Culture Service (Exp/Cult 26.1535 R).

Validity and monitoring

The environmental impact report will lose its validity within a maximum period of four years from its publication, unless the project is authorized and its execution begins, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension. The promoter must submit documentation prior to the start of the works, including notification 10 days in advance and the resolution for the modification of the concession from the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, and submit monitoring reports during the first four years of operation.

The resolution is made public in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha and on the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, and it is not appealable via administrative channels, without prejudice to the appeals that may proceed against the future act of project authorization.

The decision confirms the trend in the central region of Albacete, where pistachio trees have been replacing traditional herbaceous and horticultural crops over the last decade. For farmers and the rural environment, the report endorses an irrigation model that is more efficient in water use, although conditioned on the protection of steppe avifauna and the Mancha Oriental groundwater body, declared a zone vulnerable to nitrate pollution.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, no. 2026-08-25, section III (Other provisions and acts) (official reference: 2026/6232, file S478/2026/AB/00092).