New Zealand - ONZ Focus Grove Project
Focus Grove Project continues to bear (increased) fruit This report outlines the status and practices of the groves taking part in the continuing Olives New Zealand Focus Grove Project. It includes observations by project consultant Dr Stuart Tustin, information from grove owners and discussions with attendees, during the fifth round of Focus Grove Visits and Field Days held in October 2021.
At Aquiferra vigorous regrowth is being left for now to ascertain stronger branches.
The trees at Kakariki Olive Grove are being successful pruned for regrowth and increased production.
Hawke’s Bay: Aquiferra - Tim Groves and Jess Arthur (new owners from April 2021) Aquiferra is one of the original Focus Groves but was also an early adopter of the grove management principles. It is regarded as an exemplary grove, with an average production in 2021 of 19.14kg/tree and 16.33% oil yield compared with regional averages of 16.65kg and 16.93% respectively. Aquiferra had to harvest earlier than desired in 2021 due to contractor availability. The fruit was not as ripe and was difficult to shake off, with quite a lot left on the trees. Oil yield was subsequently also down and the 1700L produced was unlikely to meet forecast sales. Tim and Jess are following previous owner Bob Marshall's 20-day spray schedule and the trees were looking clean and healthy. With flowering starting, Protek applications were being commenced as per recommendations. Nitrogen had been added to the Manzate spray and Stuart recommended a second application. He noted that leaf tests should be done in January and July to determine initially what needs to be applied and then to gauge effectiveness, while soil tests should be done annually. Soil testing is an indication of the ‘reservoir’ available for the tree to absorb, whereas a leaf test is what the tree can access from this reservoir. Foliar feeding then gives trees instant access to the nutrients, whereas ground application fills the reservoir and you lose control of the timing of absorption.
Stuart noted that Olives NZ recommends that once an established herbicide regime is in place, spring and autumn applications are adequate for control, the latter only if needed. He also noted some scale has returned and recommended seeking advice from Horticentre on the spray regime required. Pruning had been completed and regrowth was looking good on all varieties across the grove. Flowering was at different stages across the grove - in order Frantoio, Kalamata and Picual, with a two-week spread. A mild winter and lower “chilling hours” in Hawke’s Bay was most likely the cause of later and more widespread flowering times across the region. With Hawke’s Bay in the third year of drought conditions, Stuart reminded that irrigation was needed or fruit will shrivel and impact oil yield. He recommended separating the irrigation lines to one either side of the trees to improve effectiveness. Nelson Note: previously Neudorf Olives has been part of the Project, following a reduced Manzate spray program. The grove has been sold and the new owners are not continuing the spray program so no field visit was conducted. Redwood Valley: Kakariki Olives - Ray and Brenda Gregory Another of the original Focus Groves, Kakariki has shown outstanding improvement in grove health and increased production. In 2021 the grove produced on average 14.36kg/tree and 12.98% yield, compared with the regional averages of 12.48kg and 11.62% respectively.
38 • Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor • March 2022 • Issue 123
