Olive Tree Alternate Bearing

Olive tree growers must have a good understanding of Alternate Bearing, because it will surely affect their production. Alternate bearing is the tendency of some fruit trees to produce much greater than average crop in one year and much lower than average crop in the following year. Alternate bearing is a common phenomenon in many fruit tree species and causes severe labor and economic problems, because the production is not the same or nearly the same (in terms of quantity) year by year and in many cases it cannot be projected by the grower.

The olive tree is widely known for its strong tendency for alternate bearing (biennial bearing), which severely affects the fruit yield from year to year. A large production in year 1 removes most of the various carbohydrates, organic nitrogen components and other essential nutrients, making the available stock insufficient to produce a new crop in year 2. Some farmers believe that- through supplying olive trees with excessive nutrients in year 1 or in year 2- they can minimize the phenomenon of alternate bearing. However, researchers have proven that summer pruning and sophisticated irrigation are some of the methods that have some chances of achieving (partial) normalization of fruit production.

You can enrich this article by leaving a comment or photo of your olive trees’ Alternate Bearing tendency and effects in production. See Olive Oil Prices

1.) Olive Tree Information & Uses

2.) Growing Olive Trees

3.) Are Olive Farms profitable?

4.) Olive Tree Alternate Bearing

5.) Olive Tree Propagation & Pollination

6.) Olive Tree Climate – Temperature Requirements

7.) Olive Tree Soil Requirements

8.) Planting Olive Trees

9.) Olive Tree Fertilizer Requirements

10.) Olive Tree Water Requirements

11.) Olive Tree Pruning

12.) Harvesting Olives

13.) Olive Trees Diseases and Pests

14.) Q&As Olive Trees

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