Olive trees: promoting drupe enlargement and improving oil yield
Two solutions for foliar application tested in the field.
Among the various parameters influencing olive grove production, adequate nutrition plays a significant role. In this context, the application of foliar fertilizers can contribute to achieving more satisfactory results in terms of productivity and oil yield at harvest. To help reach these objectives, Fomet’s Research Center has developed two specific products that were subsequently field-tested: Vigoramin® Power, to promote drupe enlargement, and Kappabrix®, to improve oil yield.
Vigoramin® Power includes four essential components in its formulation: amino acids from enzymatic hydrolysis, fluid yeast extract rich in vitamins, ribonucleic acids, and beta-glucans, and finally, two different types of brown algae, Ascophyllum nodosum and Ecklonia maxima, which are particularly rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols. To evaluate the product’s effectiveness in increasing drupe size, a trial was conducted on the Ravece variety in the Villamaina (AV) area, within the Irpinia – Colline dell’Ufita PDO production zone, in 2023. Two foliar applications were carried out: on July 23, during the pit hardening stage, and on August 31, during the final drupe growth stage. In both cases, the product was applied foliarly at a dose of 4 kg/ha. Compared to the untreated control, an 8% increase in size was observed in the plot treated with Vigoramin® Power.
To improve oil yield, Fomet’s proposal is Kappabrix®, an innovative formulation containing potassium carbonate and biological activators, specifically selected from brown algae and humic acids. Its unique formulation makes the potassium extremely absorbable via foliar application, improving its translocation within the plant. A trial was conducted on olive trees of the Leccino variety in the Lapio (AV) area between September and October 2021. The product was applied foliarly at a dose of 5 kg/ha, with three treatments performed between the beginning and nearly complete veraison of the fruit on the following dates: September 16, September 27, and October 8.
Following the harvest and milling of the olives, an increase in oil yield was found in the plot treated with Kappabrix® compared to the untreated control. Furthermore, the olives treated with Kappabrix® appeared firmer at harvest, without shriveling attributable to summer drought, and were further along and more uniform in epicarp coloring compared to olives harvested from untreated plants.
