Using a grape harvester in super-intensive olive cultivation

This paper reported the first results of experimental mechanical harvesting tests in a super-intensive olive cultivation. In this type of olive cultivation, trees were grown with a central axis mode and a tree distance of 4,00x1,50 m. A “Braud” grape harvesting machine for espalier was tested in experimental olive grove in Cassano delle Murge (BA). On the results of harvesting tests it was possible to verify that the harvesting machine is able to collect the almost all the product with an operative work capacity of 0,5 ha/h. An evaluation of harvesting cost was carried out to determine the minimum convenience growing surface, also to estimate the increase in income per hectare opposed to the manual harvesting. Finally, tha performance of tested machine was compared with other machines used in suoper intensive and traditional plantations both.