Olive orchard management: Advances and problems

Olive orchard management greatly affects the orchard productivity, the oil quality, the cost of production and the natural environment. Over the last years important new knowledge, methodologies and technologies have been achieved concerning the orchard establishment, the training, the soil and the water management, the nutrition and the harvesting in olive orchards. On the other hand, significant problems related with planting density, the pruning and the harvesting mechanisation, the water and nutrient supply require planning and implementation of relevant research projects.