# US 2014/0360096 A1 · Method for controlling the planting of olive trees for the continuous mechanical harvesting of the olives

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- Number: US 2014/0360096 A1
- Document ID: US20140360096A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/351,094
- Filed: 2012-12-13
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-23
- Assignees: PELLENC (Societe Anonyme)
- Applicants: PELLENC (Société Anonyme)
- Inventors: Roger Pellenc; Christian Rolland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360096A1

## CPC

- A01G 17/005: {Cultivation methods}
- A01G 17/14: Props; Stays
- A01D 46/28: Vintaging machines, i.e. grape harvesting machines
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING

## Abstract

A method for controlling the planting of olive trees for the continuous mechanical harvesting of the olives using harvesting machines, the method having the following steps: planting parallel rows of olive tree saplings with a spacing between the tree trunks and a spacing between the rows; placing trellising on each row; placing divergent supports for each tree; attaching two divergent branches of each tree, which are arranged in a single vertical plane and in the vertical plane of the row to which said tree belongs, onto a pair of supports; removing other branches of said tree; adapting the shape of the foliage of the trees so as to impart a configuration flattened in alignment with the rows thereto; maintaining said configuration by periodically pruning the trees until the latter reach maturity and bear fruit; and removing the supports and the trellising when the trees are fully grown.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method of managing olive tree plantings, adapted to the mechanical, continuous harvesting of olives by means of harvesting machines, characterized by the following stages:
planting of parallel rows of young olive trees with a spacing between the tree trunks and a distance between the rows;
installation, on each row of trees of a collective vertical espalier comprising posts connected if necessary to wires;
installation of divergent stakes on said espalier for each tree;
attaching two divergent major limbs of each tree, positioned in one vertical plane and in the vertical plane of the row to which said tree belongs, to a couple of divergent stakes;
elimination of other major limbs of said tree, if present;
adaptation of the form of foliage or overhead fruit-bearing part of the trees to give them a “flattened” configuration oriented in the alignment of the rows;
maintaining this configuration through periodical pruning up to maturity of the trees and fruit production by the latter, so as to permit the continuous harvesting of olives by means of straddling harvesting machines; and
removal of the stakes and the espalier elements when the trees have reached maturity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the two major limbs that were kept of each tree for the implementation of the management system of olive tree culture, comprise a first major limb rising vertically or in a direction close to vertical in the extension of the trunk of the tree and a second major limb oriented obliquely relative to said first major limb by forming a V with the latter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the two major limbs are attached to stakes so as to form between them an angle comprised between 30° and 90° and, preferably, an angle of 45°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second major divergent limbs of the trees constituting a row are placed successively in identical manner from one end of the row to the other end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and second major divergent limbs of the trees constituting a row have an orientation that is opposite to that of the first and second major divergent limbs of the adjacent row(s).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that one retains, for the constitution of the second major limb a branch which begins at the trunk and at a distance from the ground and more precisely, at a level above where the receiving floor of the straddling harvesting machines is generally located.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that one performs an annual or bi-annual pruning of the trees, so that the branches that were kept remain in the espalier plane and that the cushion of plant material constituted by the rows of trees does not exceed a width of 2 m.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the olive trees are planted with a spacing between the trees in the range of 3 m to 8 m.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Method of managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the olive trees are planted in pairs, with a first spacing between two trees of one pair in the range of 1.5 m to 3 m and a second spacing between two tree pairs in the range of 3 m to 7 m.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Method for managing olive tree plantings according to claim 1, characterized in that the rows of olive trees are created with a distance between the rows in the range of 5 m to 8 m.