The nutritional balance of the olive, here are the elements and doses

Each plant, to best express its productive and qualitative potential, requires a balanced supply of nutrients, each with a specific function in plant metabolism.
The availability and absorption of these elements are strongly influenced by the pH of the soil, a parameter that affects the solubility of nutrients and their accessibility to the root system.

Macro and micro nutrients

Among the fundamental macronutrients, nitrogen (N) plays a primary role in vegetative growth, promoting leaf development and photosynthetic activity; its absorption is optimal in a pH range between 6 and 8.

Il phosphorus (P), essential for rooting and flowering, requires instead slightly narrower values, between 6,5 and 7,5, to ensure good assimilation.

Il potassium (K), crucial for disease resistance and fruit quality, is maintained available between 6,1 and 7,3.

In addition to macronutrients, the plant requires elements in smaller quantities, but of fundamental importance.
Il boron (B) It is essential for flowering and fruit formation, with more efficient absorption in soils with a pH between 5,2 and 7.
Lo zinc (Zn), involved in protein synthesis and growth processes, is found in an ideal pH range between 5 and 7.
Iron (Fe), necessary for the synthesis of chlorophyll, is more available in slightly acidic soils, with an optimal range between 4,5 and 6,5.
Il magnesium (Mg), a central element of the chlorophyll molecule and therefore essential for photosynthesis, has a maximum absorption efficiency between pH 6 and 8.
Il calcium (Ca), in addition to strengthening cell walls, improves resistance to biotic stress and remains available between 6,5 and 8.
Il manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) are involved in enzymatic reactions and metabolic processes, each with its own optimal pH range for absorption.

Be careful with interactions

Un excess or a shortage of these elements can compromise the physiology of the plant, causing imbalances which have an impact on the yield and quality of the crop. Agronomic management must therefore aim to maintain the soil pH in a range that favors the optimal absorption of each element, intervening, if necessary, with specific correctives. It should also be kept in mind that, in the soil, Macro and microelements do not operate in isolation, but interact with each other through biochemical synergies and antagonisms. For a clearer understanding, we report a table of these interactions.

Table of interactions between the main nutrients

Le synergies represent positive interactions between nutrients, where the absorption and effectiveness of one nutrient are improved by the presence of the other. For example, nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) work together to optimize vegetative growth by improving the assimilation of nitrogen compounds.

- antagonisms indicate negative interactions between nutrients. When two nutrients are antagonistic, the presence of one can hinder the absorption or utilization of the other. A classic example is the interaction between potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), where excessive potassium can reduce the absorption of calcium and vice versa.

The table is a practical tool that allows you to know the synergies and antagonisms between nutrients, avoid the simultaneous application of antagonistic nutrients, preventing problems of nutritional deficiencies.

Estimation of nutrients removed in the production cycle

The nutritional needs of the olive tree vary according to numerous factors, including the cultivar, the soil and climatic conditions and the agronomic management system.

During its production cycle, the plant removes variable quantities of nutrients from the soil., influenced by olive production, by the alternation of loading and unloading and by annual vegetative growth, including leaves and new shoots. The estimates of the average removals per quintal of olives produced highlight significant differences between high and low productivity years:

These indications represent average values, susceptible to variations based on the agronomic management adopted, soil fertility and climatic conditions. For correct nutritional integration it is advisable to associate these estimates with an analysis of the soil and plant tissues, in order to precisely calibrate the fertilization strategy.
It is also supplied a general overview of the periods in which to implement any fertiliser inputs.

AIPO Director
Interregional Association
Olive producers