A METHOD OF PRUNING FOR THE RECOVERY OF OLIVE PRODUCTIVITY

A study was carried out on growth and yields of olive trees rejuvenated with a method of pruning which envisages cutting down the tree just above ground level. A 12 year old orchard of ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Leccino’ trees was splited in 10 blocks of 20–25 trees each. In March 1980 the olive trees of one block were rejuvenated by cutting them down just above ground level; the operation was repeated on the other blocks each year up to Spring 1989. Five years after cutting down the trees, the volume of the "new" canopy was greater than that of the 20 year old control trees. The olives produced better yields and were less alternate bearing from the first fruiting, which appeared three years after pruning. After 9 years the cumulative yield of the rejuvenated trees equalled that of the control trees. The technical-economical validity of this unconventional method of pruning has been proved. Advantages were seen in the reduction of labour, both for pruning and harvesting, and above all, in the recovery of yields in rejuvenated trees. From a economic point of view there was a significant reduction in the cost of oil production.