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Agrology Success Stories: Increase Olive Fruit Size & Weight

Agrology’s Success Stories demonstrate the ability of Agrology’s Specialty Plant Nutrition Products to make a difference even from the very first application!

Our aim is to show that Agrology’s Nutrition Programs are a profitable investment for the grower because their economic benefits far outstrip the cost of the complementary applications!

One such Success Story was carried out in table olives (SS 2018_14_GR) in 2018, in collaboration with Mr. Yomatari Dimokrati, a member of Agrology’s Nutrimaster®  network. Throughout the whole process, the grower benefited from the continuous guidance and support offered by both Agrology’s Technical Department, and Mr. Yomataris’.

Initially the olive grove was divided into two equal plots, that consisted the 2 treatments of the Success Story. One was used as the Control plot, while Agrology’s Program was used in the second. In both treatments, the producer made use of same plant protection and plant nutrition – fertilization program. Agrology’s Specialized and Innovative Nutrition and Fertilization Products application was complementary in the trial plot.

Success Story Goals

By using Specialty Plant Nutrition Products during specific growth stages of olives growing, the producer can achieve a significant improvement in the quality characteristics of his crop.

The Program included the implementation of Specialized and Innovative Plant Nutrition Products, more specifically, Gravital® Energy, Nodius® F-Kin, XGel® Sapphire, XGel® Emerald and XGel® Ruby. Moreover, the implementation took place during certain stages of olives growth and the producer to achieve significant agronomic benefits.

The Objectives of this Success Story were as follows:

  1. Increase in Olive Fruit Size & Weight
  2. Increase the percentage of 1st Grade fruits

General Info of the Success Story

  • Cultivation Period: 2018
  • Location: Ormylia, Chalkidiki
  • NutriMaster®: Yomataris Dimokratis
  • Owner of the Estate: Yantas Athanasios
  • Cultivation: Olives Table (Variety of Chalkidiki)
  • Greenhouse Area of the Success Story: 7 acres
  • Plant Protection Program: Common to the whole crop

Special Nutrition Program

The application of the following products was complimentary. The timing and dose of each application is also indicated.

Foliar Product Applications

  • 1st Intervention: New Vegetation

XGel® Sapphire (300 cc / 100 l)

  • 2nd Intervention: Start of Fruit Setting

XGel® Emerald (300 cc / 100 l)

  • 3rd Intervention: Hardening of the Core

Gravital® Energy (2 kg / 100 lt)

  • 4th Intervention: Fruit Growth

Nodius® F-kin (100 cc / 100 lt)

  • 5th Intervention: Fruit Growth

XGel® Ruby (300 cc / 100 lt)

  • 6th Intervention: Fruit Growth

Gravital® Energy (2 kg / 100 lt)

  • 7th Intervention: 1 month before harvest

XGel® Ruby (300 cc / 100 lt

Picture 1. Application Program - Growth Stage
Picture 1. Application Program – Growth Stage

Besides the above supplementary applications, the farmer applied the same Fertilization/ Nutrition and Plant protection program, in both treatments (Control + Agrology Program) throughout the growing season.

Success Story Results

Measurements on both plots revealed impressive results in the Agrology treatment. Specifically, the results were as follows:

  • Increase in fruit weight: + 34% (+2.5 gr / fruit)

The producer confirmed the results of sampling in practice by the producer himself in the early stages of harvesting and while delivering the fruit to the ordering offices. The difference observed in the Agrology Program was 30-50 olives per kilogram above the Control. The first harvest hands were made separately for the two pieces by the producer.

Picture 2. Fruit Weight. With the Agrology Program application, 500 gr constitute of 53 olives, while in the Control 500 gr constitute of 80 olives.
Picture 2. Fruit Weight. With the Agrology Program application, 500 gr constitute of 53 olives, while in the Control 500 gr constitute of 80 olives.
Picture 3. Average Olive Fruit Weight Increase. With the implementation of the Agrology Program, the fruit weight increase was 2.5 g (+ 34%), compared to the Control.
Picture 3. Average Olive Fruit Weight Increase. With the implementation of the Agrology Program, the fruit weight increase was 2.5 g (+ 34%), compared to the Control.
  • Increase in olive fruit size: + 19% (+4 mm / fruit)
Picture 4. Fruit Size. Fruit sample of Agrology (top) and Control (bottom).
Picture 4. Fruit Size. Fruit sample of Agrology (top) and Control (bottom).
Picture 5. Fruit Size (diameter and height) (cm). Fruit Sample of Agrology (right) and Control (left). Fruit Sample from the Agrology program and the Control next to a ruler (cm).
Picture 5. Fruit Size (diameter and height) (cm). Fruit Sample of Agrology (right) and Control (left). Fruit Sample from the Agrology program and the Control next to a ruler (cm).
Picture 6. Increase of Fruit Diameter. With the implementation of the Agrology Program, an average 4 mm fruit diameter increase (+ 19%) was achieved, compared to the Control.
Picture 6. Increase of Fruit Diameter. With the implementation of the Agrology Program, an average 4 mm fruit diameter increase (+ 19%) was achieved, compared to the Control.
  • Expansion of fruit harvest time, due to the maintenance for a longer period of the desired marketable green coloration.

Investment – Producer’s Benefit

The Increase of the Average Fruits Weight by 34% and the Increase of the Olive Fruit Size led to a higher class of fruit classification contributed to the Increase of Producer’s Income by € 976.00 per ton of olives.

The indicative cost of complementary applications with Agrology’s Specialized and Innovative Nutrition Products amounts to 440,40 € / ha.

Picture 5. Investment - Producer's Benefit
Picture 5. Investment – Producer’s Benefit

Learn more about Agrology Specialty Nutrition Programs from our specialized staff Here.

This trial was carried out under specific field conditions and should not be replicated without the guidance of an agronomist or the Technical Department of Agrology. In all cases, Agrology products and programs must be applied in accordance with the label.