Over the last twenty years, the super-intensive olive grove model has gradually spread across many Mediterranean olive-growing areas, including Italy. The reason is clear: this system allows for drastically reduce harvesting costs, increase agronomic management efficiency and achieve rapid plant entry into production.
In super-intensive system, characterized by very high densities (1.200–2.000 plants/ha) and productive wall breeding, the plant physiology , nutritional management they hire a even more strategic role compared to traditional olive growing. In these systems, in fact, the intense root competition and high productivity require highly technical and targeted fertilization and biostimulation programs, capable of supporting the various phenological phases of the crop.
Nutritional strategy in different phenological phases
Nutrition management in super-intensive olive groves must be planned according to the crop's phenological cycle, with targeted interventions that accompany the most delicate physiological moments.
1. Pre-flowering: stimulate fertility and fruit set
The pre-flowering stage is one of the most delicate moments of the entire growing cycle. This period determines flower fertility, fruit set, and yield potential.
At this stage, they are particularly important boron and molybdenum, key elements for pollen germination and fertilization.
In this sentence Hello Nature proposes:
HI Q BORON – MOLYBDENUM – 2,5 L/ha
Targeted supply of boron and molybdenum to promote fertility and fruit set.
MYR MICRO – 2 L/ha
Complex of microelements that supports the plant's metabolic activity and improves nutritional balance.
This combination allows you to optimize the quality of flowering and prepare the plant for the fruit setting phase.
2. Post-flowering: contain fruit drop
Immediately after flowering, the olive tree goes through a critical phase: the physiological fall of the fruitlets.
At this stage it is important to support the plant with elements that improve:
- the holding of the fruits;
- the metabolic capacity of the plant;
- resistance to physiological stress
The technical scheme suggested by Hello Nature in several super-intensive olive groves it provides:
- HI Q BORON-MOLYBDENUM – 2 L/ha;
TRAINER – 3 L/ha;- TRAINER, a biostimulant based on peptides and amino acids of natural origin, helps the plant overcome the post-fruit setting stress phase, improving production stability.
3. Early summer: stress prevention
From early to late June, the olive tree enters the fruit growth phase, often accompanied by increasingly stressful weather conditions.
To support the plant it is recommended to carry out at least 2 treatments approximately 20 days apart with TRAINER at a dose of 4 L/ha.
4. Swelling phase: potassium and calcium supplementation
During the drupe swelling phase, some companies integrate the nutritional program with elements that are fundamental for the quality of the fruit:
- Potassium (K)
It promotes oil accumulation and improves the size. - Calcium (Ca)
It strengthens the cell structure and contributes to resistance to stress.
These additions are adapted on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the crops.
5. Strengthening endogenous defenses
Another aspect that is increasingly being considered in modern olive growing concerns the strengthening of the plant's natural defenses.
In this context, the use of may be useful SCUDO (Copper Gluconate with plant peptides) used in several strategic moments:
- Post-harvest mixed with copper treatments – 2 L/ha
- Post-pruning mixed with copper treatments – 2 L/ha
- Summer period mixed with copper treatments – 1,5–2 L/ha
These interventions help improve the plant's resilience, making it more ready to face any type of stress.
The super-intensive olive grove represents one of the most interesting developments in modern olive growing today, but it requires a highly technical agronomic approach.
Among the key elements of production success we can identify:
- timely nutritional management;
- metabolic support in critical phases;
- biostimulation and defense strengthening strategies.
Integrate these aspects into a coherent agronomic plan, such as the one proposed by Hello Nature, allows for high, constant and quality production, maintaining the functionality of the production wall over time.
In an increasingly variable climate, the ability to support the physiology of the olive tree throughout the production cycle is the true key to ensuring the economic and agronomic sustainability of super-intensive plantations.
To learn more and request your personalized fertilization plan, click the following link:
(link: https://www.hello-nature.com/it/piano-fertilizzazione-olivo/)
