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The mechanical harvesting of fruit for oil production in an intensive olive tree orchard is generally accomplished by applying vibration to the tree's trunk. This vibration is consequently transmitted to the branches, causing the fruit to detach. Although this practice is commonly used, the effects on tree behavior under forced vibration are not firmly established. Dynamic analysis was performed on 17 olive trees (Olea europaea L.) growing in an intensively-managed orchard using modal testing techniques. Modal parameter identification was focused inside the range excitation frequency used by the most commonly available trunk shakers on the market. The olive trees featuring a low morphological variability and modal parameters were obtained for a representative olive tree. The first two modes of vibration of the main tree frame were identified with damping ratios of 26.9 and 17.1% and natural frequencies of 20.2 and 37.7 Hz, respectively. A third mode of vibration of less importance was found at a higher frequency. Therefore, many local modes of vibration were detected near these natural frequencies, primarily located on secondary branches. During the testing, the olive trees behaved like a damped harmonic oscillator with predominantly mass damping in these modes.

<p>Olive fruit production and oil quality distribution with respect to canopy distribution are important criteria for selection and improvement of mechanical harvesting methods. Tests were performed in a high-density olive orchard (<em>Olea europea</em> L., cv. Arbequina) in southern Spain. Fruit distribution, fruit properties and oil parameters were measured by taken separate samples for each canopy location and tree. Results showed a high percentage of fruits and oil located in the middle-outer and upper canopy, representing more than 60% of total production. The position of these fruits along with their higher weight per fruit, maturity index and polyphenol content make them the target for all mechanical harvesting systems. The fruits from the lower canopy represented close to 30% of fruit and oil production, however, the mechanical harvesting of these fruits is inefficient for mechanical harvesting systems. Whether these fruits cannot be properly harvested, enhance tree training to raise their position is recommended. Fruits located inside the canopy are not a target location for mechanical harvesting systems as they were a small percentage of the total fruit (&lt;10%). Significant differences were found for polyphenol content with respect to canopy height, although this was not the case with acidity. In addition, the ripening index did not influence polyphenol content and acidity values within the canopy. Fruit production, properties and oil quality varied depending on fruit canopy position. Thus harvesting systems may be targeted at maximize harvesting efficiency including an adequate tree training system adapted to the harvesting system.</p>

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