La “medium” pruning of the olive tree has offered better answers from a productive point of view and in the vegetative parameters of the plant compared to a “light” pruning. È This is the result that emerges from an experiment conducted in 2023 in central Italy by researchers from theUniversity of Perugia and from Creates from Spoleto to evaluate the effects of two different pruning intensities (“light” and “medium”) on the vegetative-productive behavior and physiology of adult olive trees grown in dry conditions and therefore without irrigation.
Following the two different pruning intensities, the volumes of the hair, on which the research results were measured, were found to be equal to 10.000 m3/ha with “light” pruning and 7.500 m3/ha with “medium” pruning.".
During the study, many parameters were taken into consideration and are briefly summarized here.
The growth of shoots was found to be higher in trees subjected to “medium” pruning. During the summer period, the leaves of plants pruned with “medium” intensity showed values of relative water content (Relative Water Content – RWC), water potential, photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance higher than those of plants pruned with a “light” intensity.
At harvest, the “medium” intensity pruning determined a higher unit weight, pulp/stone ratio e contained in oil, and a slower one pigmentation and reduction of the hardness of the pulp. The olives from the plants pruned with “medium” intensity showed a lower rcontribution between resistance to detachment and fresh weight of the fruit, as a consequence of the greater weight of the fruits.
Trees pruned with “light” intensity showed a olive production greater than those pruned with “medium” intensity, but the difference disappears if the production is expressed as a quantity of oil.
The “medium” pruning resulted in a greater production efficiency of treesi, expressed as quantity sboth olive and oil products per unit volume of the canopy.
In conclusion, the researchers highlight, “under the conditions in which we operated, the intensity of pruning was able to significantly influence both the vegetative-productive behavior of the trees and the physiology of the plants. A canopy volume of about 7.500 m3/ha, obtained with a “medium” intensity of pruning, seems to be the one able to ensure the best responses in terms of production and water status and functionality of the leaves”.
A continuation of the investigation, it was highlighted, is necessary to evaluate the medium-long term effects of the treatments applied and of different seasonal trends.
