Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard

Abstract

The evaluation of the canopy in orchard cultivation is a key aspect for the main cultivation techniques, such as pruning, thinning, harvesting, production and improved fruit quality. The possibility of having a periodic screening of the state of development of the vegetation can be of practical support to growers. Research on the application of precision agriculture has provided tools for reading and interpreting crops, and the resulting information is potentially useful. Many of the systems under study provide after monitoring information processing systems that reduce the timeliness of intervention. Especially in intensive systems such as olive groves, knowing the precise intervention points is often essential. In the present work, a multi-parameter instrument was used for field monitoring on the agricultural tractor to analyse the canopy. The system allows measuring various indicators such as height and density of the canopy and the temperature and humidity of the ambient air and at the leaf level. The first evaluation of the data made it possible to identify areas with greater vegetative concentration and greater or lesser development. The system made it possible to identify with good approximation the homogeneous areas, based on the Canopy Index (CI) evaluation to be subjected to subsequent and specific management efforts, dividing them into low, ordinary, and high vegetative growth. The results highlight the possibility of directly combining operators able to intervene with the same passage, selecting based on differences in growth, typical varietal specificities, and areas of deficient development or that are affected by plant diseases, confirming the objective of defining the areas of the orchard that require different management and workload techniques.

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

“…According to our study the high-pressure water blast machine applied along the row did not affect the growth of the irrigated young olive trees in terms of trunk cross sectional area (TCSA), plant height and the removed pruning material compared to the hoeing machine (Figures 5-7). Such results confirm that, as seen for the whole orchard soil floor management in a high-density planting system [6], the maintenance of a week soil cover along the row (instead of completely removing it by tillage) does not compromise the vegetative growth of the olive trees during the first years after planting. Moreover, the presence of a living mulch below the olive trees can ensure an increased biological diversity and may imply a higher resilience of the whole agro-ecosystem with positive effects on fruit yield and quality, as reported in recent studies about organic management of young vineyards [45], apple [46] or olive [47] orchards.…”

“…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. A previous study under the same pedoclimatic conditions has highlighted different canopy behaviours linked to the different cultivars [6]. 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 control can be carried out by two main strategies: (i) directly eliminating the weeds (direct control); (ii) limiting their development by spreading partially fermented or unfermented organic material on the surface, thus increasing the organic content at the same time [6]. Direct control (physical or chemical) depends by the operator's choice of intervention and by the specific functional tool used [12].…”

Assessment of the Spatial Variability and Uncertainty of Shreddable Pruning Biomass in an Olive Grove Based on Canopy Volume and Tree Projected Area

“…Allometric equations can be used to calculate crown volume or even pruning quantities based on dendrometric parameters, although there is some discussion about their application to fruit trees [36]. In general, the use of proximal multiparametric sensors [37], LiDAR, or terrestrial laser scanning [38] can facilitate the estimation of available biomass through rapid, nondestructive methods. Additionally, geographic information system software can serve as a valuable tool for managing and analyzing geographic data related to the localization of pruning residues, particularly in the planning of the energy supply chain [39].…”

Effects of Different Inter-Row Soil Management and Intra-Row Living Mulch on Spontaneous Flora, Beneficial Insects, and Growth of Young Olive Trees in Southern Italy

“…The economic role is well documented; in fact, the olive production has increased in recent years due to the introduction of new planting models [9], mechanization of some cultural practices, harvest above all [10], precision management technologies [11,12], and the use of high-quality standard propagation material [13]. Moreover, at least 95% of the olive cultivation is located in the Mediterranean basin [14], and it represents about 70% of world's olive production [15], from about 1.9 million olive-growing farms.…”