Olive Trees in a Hedgerow System: Quality Begins in the Nursery

Olive trees in the Iocoli nurseries in the growth phase

At Vivai Iocoli in Sant’Arcangelo, with the striking Lucanian badlands in the background, we observe young own-rooted olive trees. Temperatures are still relatively high, stimulating vegetative growth, but at this stage, the most significant development is taking place inside the container. Francesco Iocoli shows us a plant that has been potted for only one or two months: the central axis is elongating, while the roots are already colonizing the growing medium.

Piante di olivo vivai iocoli pronte al trapianto

The plants are supported by stakes to develop a straight central axis, which will serve as the framework for the future productive hedgerow. Before transplanting, we are not simply looking for a tall plant; we check that it is healthy, well balanced, and equipped with a strong root system. Propagation by cuttings is a well-established technique in olive cultivation, although rooting capacity varies among cultivars. www.sciencedirect.com

Windbreak barrier of olive tree cv Leccino made with iocoli plants

In high-density olive orchards, with indicative in-row spacing of 1.30–1.80 metres depending on the cultivar and the orchard design, a well-formed young plant may respond better to our requirements than a plant that is already highly developed. What matters most is a vigorous central axis that can be trained in the field and progressively furnished with productive lateral branches.

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Together with Francesco, we also consider container volume. If transplanting is planned in advance, it may be possible to produce a younger plant in a smaller container, thereby reducing the cost of supply. With more than one thousand trees per hectare, the economic difference can become significant. Naturally, the container must provide sufficient space for root development until delivery. This approach requires precise timing, a prepared orchard, and an irrigation system capable of supporting establishment after planting.

There is another issue that is particularly important to me: the use of Italian cultivars in hedgerow olive orchards. We cannot categorically consider them unsuitable. Research on Frantoio, Leccino, Maurino and Moraiolo, Favolosa, Leccio del Corno, Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla, and Cima di Melfi highlights interesting possibilities, while also showing differences in vigour that must be taken into account when designing the orchard and planning pruning strategies. Frantoio and Leccino, for example, may require greater attention to keep the canopy within dimensions compatible with mechanical harvesting. research.unipg.it

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The hedgerow, therefore, does not depend solely on planting density. It begins with the choice of cultivar and nursery plant, and then takes shape through the training of the central axis and the management of vegetative vigour. Here, among the young olive trees at Vivai Iocoli, it becomes clear how the future of an olive orchard begins even before the trees enter the field.

Editorial Note:

Original content by Agronomist Vito Vitelli, developed and optimised with the support of artificial intelligence tools for educational, informational, and technical communication purposes.

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