I want to Know about Olive Cultivation in Indai
I am aware of one PPP Project by RSAMB in Rajasthan.
But i need to know about its results.
Any information will be helpful
Dear... You can grow the olive in India anywhere,
Planting & Growing Info
When to Plant Olive Trees
"Warm Soil Cool Air" sums up the philosophy of those who believe as I do that fall is the best time for planting olive trees. Planting a tree in early fall after the intense heat of the summer has passed relieves the tree of suffering through a period of high stress that heat can bring on and which often results in setting the tree back and retarding growth.
As the soil is still relatively warm the roots are stimulated to grow while the foliage part of the plant enjoys the mildness provided by short days and nights not yet cold. Good root development first lets the tree get ready for abundant spring growth.
While it is true that a younger tree is more sensitive to extremes of cold, planting in early October gives the tree two months to harden up before the coldest period of the year.
Cold is often not the primary consideration of when to plant.
If for whatever reason you wish to plant at another time of year, early spring is a good choice.
Given what seems to have become the real unpredictability of the rainy drip irrigation is a must no matter when one chooses to plant. By using drip those in the milder areas have had success planting during most of the year. Early fall however remains optimal.
Olive Orchard Layout
Orchard layout is probably the most permanent decision you will make concerning your olive orchard. The trees will stay in the aspect and spacing you select for them for many years to come. There are a number of factors, which determine the physical layout of your orchard. The purpose of this page is to outline and explain these factors so that you can decide on an effective layout.
Orientation
When planning the aspect of your orchard you must keep in mind the fact that light and air penetration will increase the tree's health and crops. To achieve maximum light penetration into each row and each tree, the rows should be planted as close to a North-South direction as possible. That is, if you were driving a tractor up or down a row you would be facing either North or South. This aspect allows the light of the sun to best penetrate the trees as it moves across the sky. The aspect may need to be adjusted slightly to account for slopes or contours, but as a rule, try to keep as close as possible to North-South.
Tree Spacing
Over the past few decades there has been ongoing research throughout the international industry regarding the most viable tree spacing for irrigated olive orchards. However, as more and more trials are coming of age and results are being published, it is becoming increasingly accepted that the most effective spacings for an irrigated, mechanically harvested olive grove range from 110 to 180 trees per acre.
The tree spacing in these irrigated orchards ranges from 22 ft x 16 ft (124 trees/acre) to 20 ft x 12 ft (182 trees/acre) to 18ft x 20 ft (112 tree /acre) Although some irrigated trials have shown increased crops from more densely planted orchards in early years, researchers generally agree that the 110-180 trees/acre orchards are more economically viable in the long term. Growers looking at shorter term (10 years or less) olive orchards and/or dynamic plantings with increased crops per acre in the early years can gain further information on the denser plantings ..
Recommending the 20 ft x 16 ft (136 trees/acre) spacing for many years. Although not quite as dense as the 180 trees/acre, the 20 ft row spacings give enough room for the movement of whatever size mechanical harvesters are available at the time of harvesting, and the 16 ft tree spacings give room for the opening of a fruit catching umbrella. Following is a list of factors which need to be assessed when deciding on a tree spacing for your orchard.
Drainage
Although orchard drainage is not the topic of this sheet, there are two main points to consider. Firstly, too much water is the worst enemy of the olive tree. Your soil type and drainage system must allow water to get away efficiently both above and below the ground surface. Secondly, you need to protect against erosion in the orchard. Make sure your orchard layout balances all of the points on this page without causing extensive erosion to your property.
Fertilizer
The fertilizer requirements of an olive orchard are not complex. Traditional fertilizing has always been simply done with natural well rotted manures and mulches. This method ensures that all nutrients applied are readily usable by the trees. It also reduces the possibility of over fertilizing which can have detrimental effects on the trees, the soil, and the underlying water table.
Age of tree N dose/tree Time of application
1 year 60-80 gm urea in 3 doses During the growing season from April to July
2 year 200-250gm urea in two equal doses Before growth start and in June
3 year 300gm (200+100) In the beginning of growth and in June
4 year 400mg urea (200+150) Before the blooming and after fruit setting
5 year 500gm urea (300+200) Before the blooming and after setting
With the age and increasing the production of tree nitrogenous fertilizer should be increased accordingly.
Olive trees are therefore they're similar in their cultural needs to trees such as eucalyptus. In light of this, regular or large applications of chemical fertilizers will do more harm than good. Controlled chemical fertilizing can produce good crops, however it must be carefully monitored to ensure no damage is done.
There are many manures which are perfectly suitable for olive orchards. The one rule which must be kept in mind is that no matter which manure you choose or have access to, it must be well rotted before being put onto the orchard. Due to their acidity, fresh manures can burn the roots of the trees.
