Overview ofmodern olive production

systems in Spain

Dr. Joan TOUS

IRTA Mas de BoverConstantí (Tarragona, SPAIN)

“Olive production for oil”UC Davis short course (Lodi CA, April 18-19, 2008)

Traditional: 100 trees/ha

Intensive:I: 200-400 trees/ha (tall vase) II: 500-700 trees/ha (central leader)

Very high density: > 1.500 trees/ha

TraditionalTraditional:: 100 100 treestrees/ha/ha

Intensive:Intensive:I:I: 200200--400 trees/ha (tall vase) 400 trees/ha (tall vase) II:II: 500500--700 trees/ha (central leader)700 trees/ha (central leader)

Very high density:Very high density: > 1.500 trees/ha> 1.500 trees/ha

Olive planting systemsOlive planting systems

Intensive orchards – Trunk ShackerIntensive orchards – Trunk Shacker200-300 trees/ha (tall free vase)200200--300 300 treestrees/ha (/ha (talltall free free vasevase))

Efficiency of trunk shackerEfficiency of trunk shacker

Canopy volume (40-50 m3/tree)Training systemFruit weightFruit Removal Force FRF/weightHarvest periodVariety

Growth habit, fruit size, ripening uniformity…

Tree age

Canopy volume (40Canopy volume (40--50 m3/tree)50 m3/tree)Training systemTraining systemFruit weightFruit weightFruit Removal Force Fruit Removal Force FRF/weightFRF/weightHarvest periodHarvest periodVarietyVariety

Growth habit, fruit size, ripening Growth habit, fruit size, ripening uniformityuniformity……

Tree ageTree age

Intensive integral - ColossusIntensive integral - Colossus400 - 500 trees/ha (free vase or central leader)400 400 -- 500 500 treestrees/ha (free /ha (free vasevase oror central central leaderleader))

Intensive orchards – Lateral Hedge HarvestersIntensive orchards – Lateral Hedge Harvesters600 – 800 trees/ha (central leader)600 600 –– 800 800 treestrees/ha (central /ha (central leaderleader))

Intensive orchardsIntensive orchards

Good orographic and edapho-climaticconditionsMechanizationMedium-low crop costsHigh yields (Arbequina, Picual, Leccino…)

5.000 to 7.000 kg/ha in dry land10.000 to 13.000 kg/ha with irrigation

Good economic returnsMedium to long economic life

GoodGood orographicorographic andand edaphoedapho--climaticclimaticconditionsconditionsMechanizationMechanizationMediumMedium--lowlow cropcrop costscostsHighHigh yieldsyields ((ArbequinaArbequina, , PicualPicual, , LeccinoLeccino……))

5.000 5.000 toto 7.000 7.000 kgkg/ha in /ha in drydry landland10.000 10.000 toto 13.000 13.000 kgkg/ha /ha withwith irrigationirrigation

GoodGood economiceconomic returnsreturnsMediumMedium toto long long economiceconomic lifelife

Hedgerow orchardsHedgerow orchards>1.500 trees/ha>1.500 >1.500 tretreeess/ha/ha

Usual layout

4 x 1,5 m

Usual layout

4 x 1,5 m

Plantation

Main advantages (Hedgerow system)Main advantages (Hedgerow system)

Early bearing

High yields in the first years afterplanting

Integral harvest mechanization

Fruit harvesting very fast

Good oil quality

EarlyEarly bearingbearing

HighHigh yieldsyields in in thethe firstfirst yearsyears afterafterplantingplanting

Integral Integral harvestharvest mechanizationmechanization

FruitFruit harvestingharvesting veryvery fastfast

GoodGood oil oil qualityquality

Hedgerow orchards: World situationHedgerow orchards: World situation

40.000 ha (65% Spain, origin in Catalonia)Irrigation needs > 2.000 m3/haPlantation in flat and medium-large groves (> 15 ha)High planting costs and higher impact of frost anddroughtMechanization orchards (continuous harvesters)Crop management problems (light distribution, pruning and diseases)Yields and profit value in studyShort term investment (15 years according to latitude)Replanting or rejuvenation pruning?

40.000 ha (65% 40.000 ha (65% SpainSpain, , originorigin in in CataloniaCatalonia))IrrigationIrrigation needsneeds > 2.000 m3/ha> 2.000 m3/haPlantationPlantation in in flatflat andand mediummedium--largelarge grovesgroves (> 15 ha)(> 15 ha)HighHigh plantingplanting costscosts andand higherhigher impactimpact ofof frostfrost andanddroughtdroughtMechanizationMechanization orchardsorchards ((continuouscontinuous harvestersharvesters))CropCrop managementmanagement problemsproblems ((lightlight distributiondistribution, , pruningpruning andand diseasesdiseases))YieldsYields andand profitprofit valuevalue in in studystudyShort Short termterm investmentinvestment (15 (15 yearsyears accordingaccording toto latitudelatitude))ReplantingReplanting oror rejuvenationrejuvenation pruningpruning??

Tunisia 3 years oldTunisia 3 years oldAndalusia 4 years oldAndalusia 4 years old

Catalonia-Tarragona 4 years oldCatalonia-Tarragona 4 years old Catalonia-Lleida 4 years oldCatalonia-Lleida 4 years old

Frost damagesFrost damages

Olive worldwide dimensionOlive worldwide dimensionChile 2006

California 2003Australia 2005

Spain 2000

Hedgerow orchards: plant materialHedgerow orchards: plant material

Few cultivars with compact and low-mediumvigour:

Arbequina-IRTA-i·18®, Arbosana-i·43, Koroneiki-i·38, Urano ®

Few published results from cultivar trials:Tous et al. (2003 & 2006); León et al. (2006); Godini et al. (2006)

R+D in order to reduce olive vigour: Breeding programs (Univ. Córdoba, IRTA…)Dwarf rootstocks selections (IRTA, CIFA Córdoba)

FewFew cultivarscultivars withwith compact compact andand lowlow--mediummediumvigourvigour::

ArbequinaArbequina--IRTAIRTA--ii··1818®®, , ArbosanaArbosana--ii··4343, , KoroneikiKoroneiki--ii··3838, , Urano Urano ®®

FewFew publishedpublished resultsresults fromfrom cultivar cultivar trialstrials::TousTous et al. (2003 & 2006); Leet al. (2003 & 2006); Leóón et al. (2006); n et al. (2006); GodiniGodini et al. et al. (2006)(2006)

R+D in R+D in orderorder toto reduce olive reduce olive vigourvigour: : BreedingBreeding programsprograms (Univ. C(Univ. Cóórdoba, rdoba, IRTAIRTA……))DwarfDwarf rootstocksrootstocks selectionsselections (IRTA, CIFA C(IRTA, CIFA Cóórdoba)rdoba)

IRTA: olive plant material selectionsIRTA: olive plant material selections

Currently available:Arbequina-IRTA-i·18 ®Arbequina-IRTA-i·5 ® (high polyphenol content)Arbosana-IRTA-i·43 ®Koroneiki-IRTA-i·38 ®

Next years:First clones of Empeltre cultivar (oil & table)Dwarf roostocks

CurrentlyCurrently availableavailable::ArbequinaArbequina--IRTAIRTA--ii··1818 ®®ArbequinaArbequina--IRTAIRTA--ii··55 ®® (high (high polyphenolpolyphenol content)content)ArbosanaArbosana--IRTAIRTA--ii··4343 ®®KoroneikiKoroneiki--IRTAIRTA--ii··3838 ®®

NextNext yearsyears::FirstFirst clones clones ofof Empeltre cultivar (oil & Empeltre cultivar (oil & tabletable))DwarfDwarf roostocksroostocks

Hegderow system: cultivars trialTarragona (Catalonia)

Hegderow system: cultivars trialTarragona (Catalonia)

0 2.000 4.000 6.000 8.000

Kg olives/haKg olives/ha

i·18ArbosanaJoanencaKoroneiki

FS-17

i·18ArbosanaJoanencaKoroneiki

FS-17

aa

abab

bcbc

cc

cc

Precocity(3th year)Precocity(3th year)

0 2.000 4.000 6.000 8.000 10.000

Kg olives/haKg olives/ha

aa

abab

cc

abab

abab

Average yield(3th – 6th year)Average yield

(3th – 6th year)

Tous et al. (2006)Tous et al. (2006) Planted in October 1998Planted in October 1998

Koroneiki

Arbequina“IRTA-i·18®”

Joanenca

Arbosana Canetera

FS-17

‘Koroneiki-i·38’ ‘Arbosana-i·43’

‘FS-17®’

Plant material qualityPlant material qualityIRTA-i·18®

CertifiedCertified Arbequinastndard

CACCAC

Central leader training capabilityCentral leader training capability

IRTA-i·18®Semierect habit

IRTA-i·18®Semierect habit

ArbosanaOpen habitArbosana

Open habit

3 m

1 m

4 m (N-S)

Olive rootstocks for IRTA-i·18®Olive rootstocks for IRTA-i·18®

GoalsTo decrease IRTA-i·18® vigourTo improve tolerance against Verticillium and other soil fungus

30 rootstocks

5x4 m layout with irrigation(500 trees/ha)

Planted in March-2000

GoalsGoalsToTo decreasedecrease IRTAIRTA--ii··1818®® vigourvigourTo improve tolerance against To improve tolerance against VerticilliumVerticillium and other soil and other soil fungusfungus

30 30 rootstocksrootstocks

5x4 m layout 5x4 m layout withwith irrigationirrigation(500 (500 treestrees/ha)/ha)

PlantedPlanted in in MarchMarch--20002000

Productivity according to the rootstockat 6th year after grafting (2007)

Productivity according to the rootstockat 6th year after grafting (2007)

2025303540455055606570

60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

Trunck cross section (cm2)Trunck cross section (cm2)

Cum

ulat

ive

yiel

d(k

g)C

umul

ativ

eyi

eld

(kg)

IRTA-i·18®

Rootstocks: current situationRootstocks: current situation

‘ArbequinaIRTA-i·18®’vigour may be decreased by usingroostocks

‘‘ArbequinaArbequinaIRTAIRTA--ii··1818®®’’vigourvigour may be may be decreaseddecreased by by usingusingroostocksroostocks

IRTA-i·18®Rootstock-43

Hedgerow orchards: Crop management problems

Hedgerow orchards: Crop management problems

Very hig densities:Lower light and ventilation levels inside the canopy

< 10-20% full sunlight distribution in the canopy(july-october)

Decrease flower bud initiationDecrease fruit setDecrease fruit size and oil content

Oil quality:Changes related to growing area and latitude

VeryVery highig densitiesdensities::LowerLower lightlight andand ventilationventilation levelslevels insideinside thethe canopycanopy

< 10< 10--20% full 20% full sunlightsunlight distributiondistribution in in thethe canopycanopy((julyjuly--octoberoctober))

DecreaseDecrease flowerflower budbud initiationinitiationDecreaseDecrease fruitfruit setsetDecreaseDecrease fruitfruit sizesize andand oil oil contentcontent

Oil Oil qualityquality::ChangesChanges relatedrelated toto growinggrowing areaarea andand latitudelatitude

Ripening & fruit sizeRipening & fruit size

Fruit changes due to plant density(shading effects)

Fruit changes due to plant density(shading effects)

OilOil

0.75 m

2.25 m

Humidity db wb Production

56.0 44.3 19.5 50 %

57.6 39.2 16.6 48 %

59.2 36.0 14.7 2 %

Humidity db wb Production

56.0 44.3 19.5 50 %

57.6 39.2 16.6 48 %

59.2 36.0 14.7 2 %

ANTRACNOSIS. Colletotrichum spp.ANTRACNOSIS. Colletotrichum spp.

Hedgerow orchards: Pests and diseasesHedgerow orchards: Pests and diseases

VerticilliumVerticillium

GliphodesGliphodes

Olive leafspot

Olive leafspot

CERCOSPORIOSIS. Pseudocercosporacladosporioides

CERCOSPORIOSIS. Pseudocercosporacladosporioides

Continuous harvester efficiencyContinuous harvester efficiency

Removed fruits (%)

Branch damages (broken branches / 100 olive trees)

Removed fruits (%)Removed fruits (%)

Branch damages Branch damages (broken branches / (broken branches / 100 olive trees)100 olive trees)

Harvester efficiency:Removed fruits

Harvester efficiency:Removed fruits

Arbequina i·18

FS-17

Arbosana

Koroneiki

Arbequina i·18

FS-17

Arbosana

Koroneiki

0 2 4 6 8

Remaining fruits on the olive tree (%)Remaining fruits on the olive tree (%)

Harvested fruits = 90 % in averagewithout differences between cultivars

Harvested fruits = 90 % in averagewithout differences between cultivars

b

ab

ab

a

b

ab

ab

a

Harvester efficiency. Branch damages

Harvester efficiency. Branch damages

Arbequina i·18

Arbosana

FS-17

Koroneiki

Arbequina i·18

Arbosana

FS-17

Koroneiki

0 10 20 30 40 50

Broken branches(4th – 5th years)

Broken branches(4th – 5th years)

Broken branches / 100 olive treesBroken branches / 100 olive trees

c

bc

ab

a

c

bc

ab

a

Very high density orchards:Arbequina potential yield (kg/ha)

Very high density orchards:Arbequina potential yield (kg/ha)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Orchard age (years)Orchard age (years)

Kg/haKg/ha

Maximum observedMaximum observed

Minimum observedMinimum observed

Mean observedMean observed 9.000 kg/ha9.000 kg/ha

“Topping”“Topping”

First cut after 5-6 yearsFirst cut after 5-6 years 10 years10 years

Pruning strategies in mature treesPruning strategies in mature trees

Pneumatic hand pruning

Mechanical hedge pruning

Mixed hand x mechanical pruning

Pneumatic hand pruningPneumatic hand pruning

Mechanical hedge pruningMechanical hedge pruning

Mixed hand x mechanical pruningMixed hand x mechanical pruning

Hand pruning (pneumatic scissors)Hand pruning (pneumatic scissors)

Topping and hedge mechanical pruning

Topping and hedge mechanical pruning

By handBy hand

mechanical

What happens after 15 years?What happens after 15 years?

End of investment

Replantation. Soil diseases?

Rejuvenation pruning (different options under study)

End of investmentEnd of investment

ReplantationReplantation. . Soil diseases?Soil diseases?

Rejuvenation Rejuvenation pruning (different pruning (different options under options under study)study)

10 years olive trees3 x 1,5 m

Full row removing6 x 1,5 m

Full row removingFull row removing

Economic evaluation: intensive & hedgerowEconomic evaluation: intensive & hedgerow

Investment costs ($/ha)Pruning costs (hours/ha)Harvest costs ($/kg olives)Profitability

1 € = 1,5 $Spanish costs

Investment costs ($/ha)Investment costs ($/ha)Pruning costs (hours/ha)Pruning costs (hours/ha)Harvest costs ($/kg olives)Harvest costs ($/kg olives)ProfitabilityProfitability

1 1 €€ = 1,5 $= 1,5 $Spanish costsSpanish costs

Intensive vs Hedgerow: Investment costs ($/ha)

Intensive vs Hedgerow: Investment costs ($/ha)

300 2000300 2000

Intensive4.500 $/ha

Hedgerow12.000 – 13.500 $/ha

trees/ha

Intensive vs Hedgerow:Pruning costs (hours/ha)

Intensive vs Hedgerow:Pruning costs (hours/ha)

300 2000300 2000

Intensive20 – 25 hours/ha

Hedgerow40 – 50 hours/ha

(pneumatic scissors)

trees/ha

300 600 2000300 600 2000

Trees/ha

Colosus0.1 – 0.15 $/kg

(2-3 ha/day)

shaker + umbrella0.2 – 0.23 $/kg

(1-2 ha/day)Straddle harvester

0.06 – 0.1 $/kg(3-4 ha/day)

Intensive vs Hedgerow:Harvest costs ($/kg olive fruit)Intensive vs Hedgerow:

Harvest costs ($/kg olive fruit)

Intensive vs Hedgerows:Economic profitability

Intensive vs Hedgerows:Economic profitability

Few economic studies comparing bothdensitiesFirst results:

Both systems are profitable (intensive has betterfinancial indexes: P/I, CNV, IPR)Hedgerow uses financial criteria more thanagronomical reasons (more interest in a fast andeasy harvest than for global costs reduction)Other factors: investment type, orchard size, labourfacilities

FewFew economiceconomic studiesstudies comparingcomparing bothbothdensitiesdensitiesFirstFirst resultsresults::

BothBoth systemssystems are are profitableprofitable ((intensiveintensive has has betterbetterfinancialfinancial indexes: P/I, CNV, IPR)indexes: P/I, CNV, IPR)HedgerowHedgerow uses uses financialfinancial criteriacriteria more more thanthanagronomicalagronomical reasonsreasons (more (more interestinterest in a in a fastfast andandeasyeasy harvestharvest thanthan forfor global global costscosts reductionreduction))OtherOther factorsfactors: investment : investment typetype, , orchardorchard sizesize, , labourlabourfacilitiesfacilities

Concluding remarks: Intensive orchardsConcluding remarks: Intensive orchards

All cultivarsMedium-long economic life (30 years)Many orchard sizesEasy crop managementGood profitabilityUse of new lateral hedge or integral harvestersMore intensive layouts (400-600 trees/ha)Mechanical pruningIntegrated pest and diseases management

AllAll cultivarscultivarsMediumMedium--long long economiceconomic lifelife (30 (30 yearsyears))ManyMany orchardorchard sizessizesEasyEasy cropcrop managementmanagementGoodGood profitabilityprofitabilityUse Use ofof newnew lateral lateral hedgehedge oror integral integral harvestersharvestersMore More intensiveintensive layoutslayouts (400(400--600 600 treestrees/ha)/ha)MechanicalMechanical pruningpruningIntegratedIntegrated pestpest andand diseasesdiseases managementmanagement

Concluding remarks: Hedgerow orchardsConcluding remarks: Hedgerow orchards

Compact, low-medium vigour and early bearing cultivarsSoil quality (fair)Short term investment (15 years)Replanting or Rejuvenation pruning ?Very high planting costsMedium-large orchard size with irrigationStraddle harvester availabilityOil mills dimension related to harvest capacityCrop management and global returns are still in study(cultivars, densities, pruning, new harvesters, rootstocks...)Investments usually not related to the agronomic sector (business of services)

Compact, Compact, lowlow--mediummedium vigourvigour andand earlyearly bearingbearing cultivarscultivarsSoilSoil qualityquality (fair)(fair)Short Short termterm investmentinvestment (15 (15 yearsyears))ReplantingReplanting oror RejuvenationRejuvenation pruningpruning ??VeryVery highhigh plantingplanting costscostsMediumMedium--largelarge orchardorchard sizesize withwith irrigationirrigationStraddleStraddle harvesterharvester availabilityavailabilityOil Oil millsmills dimensiondimension relatedrelated toto harvestharvest capacitycapacityCropCrop managementmanagement andand global global returnsreturns are are stillstill in in studystudy((cultivarscultivars, , densitiesdensities, , pruningpruning, , newnew harvestersharvesters, , rootstocksrootstocks...)...)InvestmentsInvestments usuallyusually notnot relatedrelated toto thethe agronomicagronomic sector sector ((businessbusiness ofof servicesservices))