Articles
Long-term evaluation of the use of mechanical pruning in a hedge olive orchard
Article number
1446_39
Pages
293 – 300
Language
English
Abstract
In super high density/hedge olive orchards (SHD), harvesting is performed using an over-the-row harvesting machine.
These machines require that olive trees do not exceed certain dimensions in order to be harvested.
Although manual pruning is the current practice used, mechanical pruning can more easily adapt the canopy size to the harvesting machine.
Between 2008 and 2017, a long-term trial to evaluate the use of mechanical pruning as an alternative to manual pruning in SHD olive orchards was carried out in a commercial orchard of ‘Arbequina’ cultivar.
The trees were trained according to the central leader system.
In this trial, in a randomised complete block design with three replications, four treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4) are being compared.
Each of the 12 plots had 100 trees.
The treatments are: T1 – manual pruning using chain saws, each year; T2 – mechanical pruning, topping the canopy parallel to the ground followed by manual pruning complement in the two sides of the canopy; T3 – mechanical pruning, topping and hedging one side each year of the canopy.
From 2008 until 2013, a manual pruning complement was done in the opposite side; T4 – mechanical pruning, topping and hedging two sides of canopy in even years; topping the canopy in odd years.
Manual pruning complement in the two sides was performed in 2010 and 2013. In a sample of trees randomly selected, data of the dimensions of the trees were collected before and after pruning.
The time needed for pruning each plot and the yield obtained by plot was also measured.
As expected, mechanical pruning allowed to obtain a higher pruning rate.
There were significant differences in olive yield among years, but, in average, no significant differences between treatments were recorded.
From 2014 to 2017, manual pruning (T1) showed a higher yield than treatments T3 and T4.
These machines require that olive trees do not exceed certain dimensions in order to be harvested.
Although manual pruning is the current practice used, mechanical pruning can more easily adapt the canopy size to the harvesting machine.
Between 2008 and 2017, a long-term trial to evaluate the use of mechanical pruning as an alternative to manual pruning in SHD olive orchards was carried out in a commercial orchard of ‘Arbequina’ cultivar.
The trees were trained according to the central leader system.
In this trial, in a randomised complete block design with three replications, four treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4) are being compared.
Each of the 12 plots had 100 trees.
The treatments are: T1 – manual pruning using chain saws, each year; T2 – mechanical pruning, topping the canopy parallel to the ground followed by manual pruning complement in the two sides of the canopy; T3 – mechanical pruning, topping and hedging one side each year of the canopy.
From 2008 until 2013, a manual pruning complement was done in the opposite side; T4 – mechanical pruning, topping and hedging two sides of canopy in even years; topping the canopy in odd years.
Manual pruning complement in the two sides was performed in 2010 and 2013. In a sample of trees randomly selected, data of the dimensions of the trees were collected before and after pruning.
The time needed for pruning each plot and the yield obtained by plot was also measured.
As expected, mechanical pruning allowed to obtain a higher pruning rate.
There were significant differences in olive yield among years, but, in average, no significant differences between treatments were recorded.
From 2014 to 2017, manual pruning (T1) showed a higher yield than treatments T3 and T4.
Publication
Authors
A.B. Dias, A. Pinheiro, J.O. Peça
Keywords
super high density, ‘Arbequina’ cultivar
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