ISHS Acta Horticulturae 586: IV International Symposium on Olive Growing
MANAGING OF A TRADITIONAL OLIVE ORCHARD BY TIMESAVING BIENNIAL PRUNING |
| Authors: | C. Cantini, M. Panicucci |
| Keywords: | Olea europaea, canopy, fruit yield. |
| Abstract:
A method of pruning based on large cuts operated by chain saw every other year over the entire canopy of old olive trees has been tested in comparison to annual skilled pruning technique during four years in Italy. The plants pruned biennially produced 20 % less than the control, the time for pruning was reduced by 80 % passing from 57 to 12 minutes per plant/year and the tree height was reduced by 35%. The main disadvantage is the resulting disordered and thicker canopy unsuitable for those cultivars sensitive to foliage diseases. The method of pruning can be applied to most of the traditional olive orchards sensibly reducing labour requirement. | |
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