An Alternative Tool for Intra-Row Weed Control in a High-Density Olive Orchard

Alberto Assirelli,Corrado Ciaccia,Matteo Zucchini,Enrico Maria Lodolini,Veronica Giorgi,Davide Neri

doi:10.3390/agronomy12030605

Alberto Assirelli, Corrado Ciaccia + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030605

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Abstract

In high-density olive orchards, weed control along the row is pivotal to avoid the competition between the young trees and the weeds to promote a strong vegetative growth of the olives during the first years after planting. Two different mechanical weeders were compared in a high-density olive orchard (1250 trees ha−1) planted in 2019. An intra-row hoeing machine (Control) and an alternative system with a high-pressure water blast (Grass Killer) were compared. The treatments were carried out in summer and autumn. The effects of the two control systems were assessed through the weed soil coverage and indirectly through the growth of olive trees. The effect on weeds in summer was marked without showing significant differences between the applied treatments, even if the Grass Killer did not eradicate totally the weeds. In autumn, the hoeing machine showed a higher weeding capacity, even though the presence of weeds along the row treated with the high-pressure water weeder can contribute to reduce the soil moisture in wintertime. No differences were seen for the young olive tree growth. Results showed a good weeding capacity of the alternative machine, and its use can be managed in combination with other mechanical systems.

Highlights

The renovation of the olive orchards with new intensive planting systems that allow earlier and more abundant yield, and complete mechanization of harvest, is nowadays a reality [1]
Olive growing is expanding in new areas of the world using high-density planting orchards, generally using few cultivars that recorded overall adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, early bearing, low-vigour and high-yield efficiency characteristics [2–5]
Strong vegetative growth of the plantlets is required during 2–3 years after planting to form the hedgerow and allow an early onset of fruit production

Summary

Introduction

The renovation of the olive orchards with new intensive planting systems that allow earlier and more abundant yield, and complete mechanization of harvest, is nowadays a reality [1]. Strong vegetative growth of the plantlets is required during 2–3 years after planting to form the hedgerow and allow an early onset of fruit production. Weed control along the row is pivotal to reduce the competition for water and nutrients during this early critical period of the tree growth [7]. This competition during the early stages after plantation can be very strong, reducing the growth of the young olive trees and delaying the onset of fruit production [8] as reported by different authors [9,10]. In intensive cropping systems, water provided by drip irrigation contributes to the accelerate vegetative growth and the onset of fruit production after planting [11] and regulates the vegetativereproductive balance during the adult phase. At the same time irrigation stimulates the emergence and development of weeds along the row, requiring more care to control them [7]

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