My Shopping Cart
| File | Title | File Description | Type | Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PW3_CATALOGUE_2.pdf | INFACO PW3 Electroliv and Accessories Catalogue | Catalogue | Document |
When establishing an olive grove, one of the most critical decisions you will make is the layout of your trees. The arrangement you choose will influence tree health, productivity, and long-term management efficiency. This guide will walk you through key considerations, including aspect, tree spacing, irrigation, harvesting methods, drainage, pruning, and marking out your olive grove.
The orientation of your olive grove plays a vital role in light penetration and air circulation, both of which contribute to tree health and yield. The optimal alignment for olive trees is a North-South row orientation, allowing maximum sunlight exposure as the sun moves across the sky. While adjustments may be necessary for slopes or contours, striving for this alignment enhances uniform growth and fruit ripening.
Decades of research have identified ideal tree spacing for both irrigated and non-irrigated olive groves. The most efficient spacing for an irrigated, mechanically harvested olive grove is between 250 and 300 trees per hectare, with configurations such as 8m x 5m (250 trees/ha) or 7.5m x 4.5m (296 trees/ha) being optimal. While denser plantings can produce higher early yields, long-term economic viability favours moderate spacing. For non-irrigated groves, wider spacing is required to allow trees access to natural rainfall. The recommended spacing is approximately 9m x 9m (120 trees/ha), ensuring each tree has enough land to source water and nutrients.
Your choice between mechanical harvesting and hand-picking influences tree spacing. Mechanised harvesters, such as the Moresil or Sicma, require sufficient room to operate efficiently.
Proper drainage is essential for olive tree health. Excess water is one of the biggest threats to an olive grove, making soil type and drainage systems critical factors in layout planning. Effective drainage ensures water disperses efficiently while preventing soil erosion. Your grove layout should integrate drainage solutions without compromising accessibility and tree spacing.
How you prune your olive trees affects their required spacing.
Ensuring that your spacing accounts for your preferred pruning technique helps maintain tree structure and facilitates easier harvesting.
Precise marking of tree sites is essential for an organised and efficient planting process. Initial marking guides land preparation activities such as manure application, deep ripping, and irrigation installation.
Methods for Marking Rows and Trees:
For sloped land, using surveying equipment or aligning rows by sight ensures uniformity. Once irrigation and stakes are in place, a team of four people can plant approximately 150 trees per hour using a structured approach.
A well-planned grove layout is essential for maximising productivity, tree health, and efficient management. Considerations such as aspect, spacing, irrigation, harvesting methods, and drainage all play crucial roles in designing an olive grove suited for long-term success. By carefully planning and implementing best practices, you can establish a thriving, high-yield olive grove for years to come.
