Articles
ENERGY AND NUTRIENT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS OF A TYPICAL OLIVE ORCHARD IN NORTHERN GREECE
Article number
525_66
Pages
455 – 458
Language
Abstract
An irrigated commercial olive orchard located in Northern Greece (Central Macedonia), producing mainly table olives for processing, was used for a calculation of the energy balance and an estimation of the inputs and outputs of nutrients.
A total sequestered energy of 118125 MJ/ha for one cultivation period was calculated.
The most energy demanding field operation was irrigation (58% of the total energy inputs), followed by fertilization (30%) and plant protection (6.6%). The major energy input was fuel and electrical energy for the pumping system, which together amounted to 52% of the total.
Energy productivity and intensity are also discussed.
Based on the routine fertilization and leaf, stem and fruit analyses, nutrient inputs and outputs were estimated as follows: Inputs were found to be 424.3 kg/ha for nitrogen (N), 56.4 kg/ha for phosphorous (P) and 200.2 kg/ha for potassium (K). Outputs were found to be N-92.6 kg/ha, P-6.1 kg/ha and K-63.4 kg/ha, corresponding to 22% (N), 11% (P) and 31.5% (K) of the inputs.
By recycling the pruning wood the corresponding outputs were N-14.4 kg/ha, P-0.7 kg/ha and K-13.8 kg/ha.
The benefits of switching from the conventional cultivation system to an integrated production system in terms of energy and nutrients balance are discussed.
A total sequestered energy of 118125 MJ/ha for one cultivation period was calculated.
The most energy demanding field operation was irrigation (58% of the total energy inputs), followed by fertilization (30%) and plant protection (6.6%). The major energy input was fuel and electrical energy for the pumping system, which together amounted to 52% of the total.
Energy productivity and intensity are also discussed.
Based on the routine fertilization and leaf, stem and fruit analyses, nutrient inputs and outputs were estimated as follows: Inputs were found to be 424.3 kg/ha for nitrogen (N), 56.4 kg/ha for phosphorous (P) and 200.2 kg/ha for potassium (K). Outputs were found to be N-92.6 kg/ha, P-6.1 kg/ha and K-63.4 kg/ha, corresponding to 22% (N), 11% (P) and 31.5% (K) of the inputs.
By recycling the pruning wood the corresponding outputs were N-14.4 kg/ha, P-0.7 kg/ha and K-13.8 kg/ha.
The benefits of switching from the conventional cultivation system to an integrated production system in terms of energy and nutrients balance are discussed.
Authors
M. Genitsariotis, G. Chlioumis, B. Tsarouhas, K. Tsatsarelis, E. Sfakiotakis
Keywords
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