Architectural Analysis for Novel Olive Crop Management
Khouloud Annabi | Faouzi Haouala | AbdelKarim Hamrita | Rania Kouki | Foued Laabidi | Mokhtar Rejili | Samra Akef Bziouech | Mouna Mezghani Aïachi
Efficient fruit production, quality improvement, and timely harvesting are essential in olive cultivation, which requires optimised distribution and management of fruiting sites. This study aimed to support sustainable olive crop management by analysing the morphological characteristics of five cultivars (<i>Chemlali</i>, <i>Chetoui</i>, <i>Koroneiki</i>, <i>Meski</i>, and <i>Picholine</i>) under semi-arid Tunisian conditions. Through a detailed architectural analysis, we investigated the relationships between branching patterns, density, distribution of inflorescence and fruit sites, biometric traits (shoot length, internode number, and shoot dimensions), and geometric variability within each cultivar. Three trees per cultivar were analysed across three architectural units. The results showed marked architectural differences, highlighting the need for cultivar-specific strategies in planting, pruning, and orchard management. The distribution of shoots across botanical orders revealed unique branching patterns: <i>Chemlali</i> and <i>Koroneiki</i> showed thinner shoots and higher shoot density, reflecting strong apical dominance and their suitability for hyper-intensive systems. In addition, nonsignificant differences in long shoots’ insertion angles between <i>Meski</i>, <i>Chetoui</i>, and <i>Koroneiki</i> suggest compatibility for co-cultivation, facilitating mechanised maintenance and harvesting. Emphasis on inter-cultivar compatibility and architectural coherence is crucial for orchard design. These findings provide important insights for optimising orchard management practices to improve productivity, fruit quality, and operational efficiency.
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