Olive Grove Regeneration: From the “Baffo” System to Climate-Controlled Irrigation

The video, filmed on an olive farm in the province of Cagliari, documents a recovery intervention on olive trees previously stressed and affected by root diseases, mainly caused by incorrect water management.

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Agronomist Vito Vitelli explains how the conversion of irrigation systems and a new canopy management strategy led to remarkable improvements in plant health and vegetative vigor.

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The problem: the “baffo” irrigation system

The original system used emitters placed close to the trunk. This solution proved highly detrimental because constant wetting of the collar favored the development of Phytophthora root rot.

Excess localized moisture compromised the root system of many plants, making it necessary to replace dead or severely weakened trees.

The solution: turning a problem into an opportunity. The adopted strategy was twofold and highly innovative. 

Conversion into a climate-control system: the old baffo system was not removed but transformed into an aerial cooling system.

New drip irrigation: to meet real water and nutritional needs, a drip line with 50 cm spacing and a flow rate of 2 L/h was installed, intended to become double and partially buried in the future.

 

How the climate-control system works

The system is not designed for irrigation but to reduce thermal stress.

Activation during the coolest hours of the morning (from dawn until 9:30–10:00) and short cycles during the day.

Thermal effect: during Sardinian summers, temperature is reduced from 40–42 °C to about 32–33 °C, a decrease of 7–10 °C.

Physiological benefit: thermal control prevents summer vegetative block, ensuring continuous growth even during the hottest periods.

 

Canopy management and planting layout

The intervention also involved orchard structure

Density: transition from wide spacing (6×6 or 6×5 m) to a dynamic 6×2.5 m layout.

Pruning: adoption of the Zaragoza Free Vase system to create a continuous productive wall with a height limited to 2.70–2.80 m.

 

Conclusion, after one year, the orchard shows excellent health and balanced growth despite the heavy production of the previous season.

The intervention improved water management and production stability, demonstrating how technique, vision and technology can mitigate climate extremes and restore productivity to olive groves.

 

Keywords

#OliveGrove #ClimateControl #IrrigationManagement #AgronomoVitoVitelli

Editorial note

Original content by Agronomist Vito Vitelli, developed and optimized with the support of artificial intelligence tools.

Outreach activity carried out in collaboration with: