Mechanized pruning of olive trees in high dimensions and cost analysis

Italy with 1,212 hectares of olive trees and the second nation in the world by extension, preceded by Spain with 2,600 has [FAOSTAT data -year 2007/08] and all the olive area is predominantly located in the South. The quality of olive oil is quite uneven; the current trend is to aim for his general improvement both with the entry into production of new plants that are best suited to modem systems of cultivation, and both with the adoption of pruning more decisive in the old plants to adapt to mechanization.These issues are even more pressing in certain areas such as the "Plain of Gioia Tauro", located in the province of Reggio Calabria in Calabria. In this area, the olive area is over 20 000 hectares and the average age of the plants next to the century. These are characterized by remarkable growth, perhaps unique in the world: a real "forest of olive trees" where the plants can reach and often exceed 25 meters in height.But over and above the landscape, which has certainly made impressive by the majesty of these trees, the rational management of these plants is certainly problematic for the considerable labor and the great physical effort required for all fanning operations. In particular, the only pruning it weighs more than 30% of all costs of management.