Olives
A guide to applying nutrients with liquid fertilisers in
- Fertigation
- The growth cycle of the olive
- Foliar sprays
- Crop removal – olives
- EASY Liquids fertiliser guide
EASY Liquids fertilisers guide
|
Mature, drip irrigated |
Nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
||||||
|
Growth stage |
Product |
Rate of application |
N |
P |
K |
S |
Ca |
|
Stage 1 Late winter |
EASY PK® EASY N |
100 L/ha 75 L/ha |
1 32 |
12 |
24 |
|
|
|
Stage 2 Spring growth/ flowering |
EASY N Topfoliar® Or Zincsol® Or Mangasol® |
75 L/ha 4 L/ha (several sprays prior to flowering, 2 weeks apart) 2 L/ha (several sprays prior to flowering, 2 weeks apart) 2 L/ha (several sprays prior to flowering, 2 weeks apart) |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
Stage 3 Stone hardening |
EASY Cal® Topfoliar |
80 L/ha 4 L/ha (several sprays, 2 weeks apart) |
10 |
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
Stage 4 Oil accumulation & cell expansion |
EASY Cal |
80 L/ha |
10 |
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
Stage 5 Harvest |
EASY Cal |
80 L/ha |
10 |
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
Total (approx. kg nutrient per treated hectare) |
95 |
12 |
24 |
43.5 |
|||
Source: Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, 2011.
Notes:
- Please note that these are only general recommendations. Crop vigour, yield expectations and soil and leaf tissue tests should be used to refine the actual
requirements of the crop. - Additional nutrients may need to be considered in the program, such as zinc, boron, manganese, copper and iron.
- On sandy soils the above rates may need to be increased 10-15 per cent.
- Product application rates are based on monthly applications. The applications may be split into smaller doses, such as for weekly or daily application.
- Check the compatibility of fertilisers before trying to apply two products in the same fertigation application. Refer to Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ EASY N Compatibility guide for details.
Fertigation
EASY N, EASY PK and EASY Cal can be applied by injection into fixed sprinklers, microjets or drip/trickle irrigation systems.
Apply EASY PK and EASY N prior to and post bud differentiation in late winter. Applications may be split into smaller doses for weekly or daily fertigation.
Inject EASY N during active vegetative growth. Again, applications may be split into small weekly or daily doses.
Post flowering, nitrogen applications can be reduced or discontinued depending on tissue analysis results.
After harvest, a nitrogen application is most important to assimilate carbohydrate for next seasons’ initial growth. Apply EASY Cal at this stage.
Apply EASY N and EASY PK regularly during the first half of the growing season. To maintain active growth in the late summer and early autumn period, apply EASY N.
In microjet drip systems, inject EASY Liquids® fertilisers towards the end of the irrigation shift by irrigating for a number of hours, then injecting EASY Liquids for 30-45 minutes, then flushing the lines with water for another 45 minutes.
Use a similar fertigation schedule for fixed overhead sprinklers. Make sure plenty of time is allowed for flushing the lines after the fertiliser injection to ensure the nutrients are washed off the crop canopy.
Flush the lines for at least as much time as it took to inject the fertiliser.
The growth cycle of the olive
Foliar sprays
Topfoliar, Zincsol or Mangasol can be applied prior to flowering to help new growth and flower set.
Topfoliar provides a source of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and as well as a suite of micronutrients (boron, zinc, manganese, copper and molybdenum). Zinc and manganese are very important micronutrients for olives grown on alkaline soils.
When using foliar sprays:
- Do not apply foliar sprays when the temperature exceeds 25°C or when trees are under moisture stress.
- Use a wetting agent at the recommended rate. This will help facilitate uptake.
- Use water volumes of 400 – 1,000 L/ha.
Crop removal – olives
The following nutrients are removed with one tonne of fruit:
|
N |
P |
K |
|
1.3 kg |
0.2 kg |
1.8 kg |
Establishing olives
It is assumed that pre-plant incorporations of lime, gypsum, phosphorus or organic matter have been applied.
In young olive plantings, the common fertiliser inputs after planting are nitrogen, potassium, and foliar applications of micronutrients.
Fertigation
EASY N and EASY PK can be applied through the irrigation water, through fixed sprinklers, microjets or drip/trickle irrigation systems.
In microjet drip systems, inject EASY Liquids towards the end of the irrigation shift by irrigating for a number of hours, then injecting EASY Liquids for 30-45 minutes, then flushing the lines with water for another 45 minutes.
Use a similar fertigation schedule for fixed overhead sprinklers.
Make sure plenty of time is allowed for flushing the lines after the fertiliser injection to ensure the nutrients are washed off the crop canopy. Flush the lines for at least as much time as it took to inject the fertiliser.
Do not to fertigate when rain is forecast, as nutrients (particularly nitrate nitrogen) may be lost through leaching.
EASY Liquids should be injected on a regular basis during the growing season to ensure even growth.
Foliar sprays
Topfoliar can be applied to young trees when there is sufficient canopy area. Apply 300-400 ml/100 L of water either using a hand held spray gun, multi-nozzled boom or low volume mister.
When foliar spraying Topfoliar:
- Do not apply when the temperature exceeds 25°C or when trees are under moisture stress.
- Use a wetting agent at the recommended rate. This will help facilitate uptake.
EASY Liquids fertiliser guide
|
Establishment (0-1 year) drip irrigated |
Nutrients applied (kg/ha) |
|||||
|
Growth stage |
Time |
Product |
Rate of application |
N |
P |
K |
|
Minimal growth |
September |
EASY N EASY PK |
15 L/ha 10 L/ha |
6.4 0.1 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
|
Active growth |
October |
EASY N EASY PK |
15 L/ha 10 L/ha |
6.4 0.1 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
|
Active growth |
November |
EASY N EASY PK |
15L/ha 10 L/ha |
6.4 0.1 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
|
Active growth |
December |
EASY N EASY PK Topfoliar |
15 L/ha 10 L/ha 4 L/ha |
6.4 0.1 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
|
Active growth |
January |
EASY N Topfoliar |
15 L/ha 4 L/ha |
6.4 |
|
|
|
Active growth |
February |
EASY N Topfoliar |
15 L/ha 4 L/ha |
6.4 |
|
|
|
Minimal growth |
March |
EASY N Topfoliar |
15 L/ha 4 L/ha |
6.4 |
|
|
|
Total (approx. kg nutrient per treated hectare) |
46 |
5 |
10 |
|||
Notes:
- Please note that these are only general recommendations. Crop vigour, yield expectations and soil and leaf tissue tests should be used to refine the actual
requirements of the crop. - Additional nutrients may need to be considered in the program, such as zinc, boron, manganese, copper and iron.
- On sandy soils the above rates may need to be increased 10-15 per cent.
- After year 1, increase the inputs by 5-10 per cent until year 4.
- Product application rates are based on monthly applications. The applications may be split into smaller doses, such as for weekly or daily application.
- Check the compatibility of fertilisers before trying to apply two products in the same fertigation application. Refer to the Compatibility section for details.
For further information, contact your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers’ Distributor or freecall 1800 009 832.
This is a guide only, which we hope you find helpful as a general tool. While Incitec Pivot Fertilisers has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this guide, it should not be relied on as a substitute for tailored professional advice and Incitec Pivot Fertilisers accepts no liability in connection with this guide. Talk to your local Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Distributor Agronomist about soil testing and arranging a specific fertiliser recommendation that best suits your needs.
® EASY N and EASY PK are registered trademarks of Incitec Pivot Limited.
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers is a business of Incitec Pivot Limited, ABN 42 004 080 264.
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