In this episode, AgroTroia's "Success in Agriculture" program stopped by Yeşilburç, Kavşak village in the Oğuzeli district of Gaziantep. At Harun Bozkurt's olive grove, an olive nutrition program sustained for about 7 years with AgroTroia products was put under the microscope. AgroTroia board member Umut Dönmez, Hüseyin Bozgeyik from the regional dealer Bozgeyik Tarım, and agricultural engineer Cemil, together with grove owner Harun Bozkurt, evaluated olive nutrition and disease and pest control.
7 Years of Olive Success in Yeşilburç
In the 150-tree grove, the supports under each tree that brace the branches against breaking are striking; this shows just how heavy the fruit load is. Harun Bozkurt relates that he has used AgroTroia products for 7 years and that his olives give a regular crop every year regardless of on-year or off-year. Last season he sold about 2.5 tons of green olives from 150 trees. When neighboring growers saw the grove and were impressed by the results, they began to request a similar program. It is emphasized that under current economic conditions the goal of "more yield with fewer inputs" is possible when the right product, the right company, and labor come together.
Periodicity: Overcoming the On-Year/Off-Year Problem
Periodicity is the state in which the olive gives an abundant crop one year and physiologically recovers itself the next; the shoots the tree puts out during the flowering period determine the following year's yield. AgroTroia engineers state that giving phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium at the right time prevents this fluctuation. It is conveyed that applying base fertilizer once a year is not correct nutrition, and that the need must be met in its season. Harun Bozkurt says that he has not used base fertilizer for 7 years and obtains the same yield with only Copperas and the nutrition program. The engineers add that a grower who wishes can also use base fertilizer once every two years.
Copperas and Resilience Against Peacock Spot
The product forming the foundation of the grove is Copperas. Dealer Hüseyin Bozgeyik relates that after getting to know Copperas he stopped selling the costly Bordeaux mixture that loses its effect with rain; because Copperas is systemic and continues to work even shortly after rainfall. Copperas was developed primarily to increase the plant's resilience against peacock spot. By continuously producing shoots it increases the number of chlorophyll and stomata, thereby strengthening photosynthesis so the plant can produce its own food. Because peacock spot appears on old leaves, the disease is forestalled by ensuring continuous new leaf formation. At least two to three applications are recommended until the budding period; because peacock spot peaks between 18-22 degrees.
Fighting Olive Anthracnose, Stalk Fungus, and the Olive Fly
Especially in humid regions, olive anthracnose and stalk fungus are prominent problems. In anthracnose, the mycelia formed on the leaf pass to the fruit, causing collapse and spotting; the fruit dries and drops. The flower-stalk borer empties the inside of the pit, causing the fruit to drop. In control, the use of copper preparations in the summer months and bringing humidity under control in damp conditions are recommended. With regular use, Copperas reduces the effect of these diseases because it strengthens immunity a period in advance. In the grove's summer applications, mixing half a dose of Copperas alongside New Olive has seriously reduced drop. It is stated that the polyphenol ratio of the olive oil also increases in groves where Copperas is used regularly.
The Harvest-to-Harvest Olive Nutrition Program
Engineer Cemil lists the annual program: After harvest, the wounds are sealed with Copperas, and the fruit buds are ripened with the coating application. At spring awakening, cotton aphid spray (with the active ingredient changed each time) and phosphoric application are done. During the budding period, Calcio is applied together with Copperas to strengthen the stalk. At 5% flowering, application is done with an activator mix (gibberellic acid and florista); at the same time the olive moth and flower-stalk borer are brought under control. At peppercorn-stage drop, New Olive, Combi and Aminado are applied at 250 cc each per 100 liters. After pit hardening, the Copperas dose is halved, and Drop is applied to enlarge the fruit. In table-olive production, against the olive mite (red spider), a Liquid S80 sulphur application is done at the bud and chickpea-size stages.
AgroTroia products featured in this episode
- Copperas — resilience against peacock spot and diseases, supports shoots and photosynthesis.
- New Olive — olive-specific balanced nutrition.
- Combi — nutrition during the peppercorn-stage drop period.
- Aminado — amino acid supplement.
- Calcio — stalk strengthening during the budding period.
- Liquid S80 — sulphur application against the olive mite.
This grove in Yeşilburç shows that with the right product and the right timing, periodicity in olives can be forestalled and the on-year/off-year difference can be balanced. With simple but critical measures such as disinfecting pruning tools with bleach, the spread of problems such as verticillium and branch canker can also be prevented. Under current difficult conditions, a planned nutrition program and regular monitoring keep the grower's yield and income on their feet.
Source: AgroTroia – "Success in Agriculture" program, sponsored by AgroTroia.