INFLUENCE OF NON-TILLAGE ON OLIVE GROVE PRODUCTION

A compilation of the studies comparing conventional tillage and non-tillage of the bare soil was carried out. These studies have been conducted in the last 15 years by different Organisms from the Andalusian Autonomous Government The average olive yield of at least three consecutive years in 92 trials are presented. Olive yield increased with non-tillage in 81 of the trials, whereas only in four orchards the tilled olive trees produced more. Average yield increase in non-tilled olive groves with respect to the tilled ones was almost 16%. Average oil content decreased with non-tillage in 57% of the orchards, however, the non-tilled olive groves produced higher amounts of oil.