More productive olive groves with boron foliar fertilization

La foliar fertilization, olive growers know it well, does not replace the fertilization of the soil, rather the integra, with the two advantages of small doses to be used and to immediately cover the needs of the plant. Among these, fertilization with boron – which is both foliar and on the ground – is particularly useful for the olive tree, because stimulates pollen fertility, promotes fruit setting and reduces fruit drop. Furthermore, boron is necessary for the formation of auxins and lignin and makes the plant more resistant to thermal stress (from frosts to drought).
In this regard, the results of a wide-ranging study on the yield and quality of olives conducted in Italy are interesting Turkey. The study, started from over 250 soil and leaf samples, It affected six different locations of the country they presented different boron levels a soil and leaf (between 0,23 and 1,40 mg/kg in the soil and between 12,03 and 17,29 mg/kg in the leaves).
Fertilization on the ground was carried out at end of winter, and therefore before the vegetative awakening, using 4 kg of boron per hectare, while that foliar was performed – with 300 mg per litre – in three different moments: immediately after harvesting, before flowering and after fruit setting.
The results recorded in two cases a significant increase in production, between 50 and 75%, but also in the other four localities productivity was higher than in neighboring olive groves where the treatment had not been performed. In particular, it has been highlighted that boron has increased leaves and fruit, increasing the content in oil. Based on the results, the researchers agreed that thefoliar application of boron, in the three distinct phases identified (and therefore after harvesting, before flowering and after setting) helps to increase productivity of the olive grove.