Decision Support Systems for the Optimisation of Olive (Olea europaea L. 'Frantoio') Harvest Period in Tuscany

Maximization of olive (Olea europaea L.) productivity at the end of the growing season requires detailed knowledge on fruit growth and oil accumulation processes. To achieve this objective, in the last decade, regional agricultural services have adopted crop management strategies based on field monitoring networks, physical and chemical analyses, meteorological data sets, and internet-based services. In this work we describe the Decision Support System (DSS) implemented by our research group on the web site of ARSIA - Extension Service for Agriculture in Tuscany, Italy - for the optimisation of olive of 'Frantoio' harvesting. The DSS is based on a meteorological data set and on olive phenological and physiological parameters related to the olive maturation processes. Meteorological data are automatically collected from a network of agro-meteorological stations of ARSIA and olive analytical data (fruit physical parameters, maturity index, oil content and polyphenols) have been measured weekly or bi-weekly on olive samples collected from an olive orchards network. The meteorological and olive analytical data sets have been displayed on the online service where technicians and farmers are allowed to download data and reports on olive maturation process and to perform some basic agro-climatic elaborations.