Although olives (Olea europaea) will grow and produce fruit even on extraordinarly poor stony soils they do respond to fertilisers. They are shallow rooted and cultivation should be kept to a minimum.

PLANT ANALYSIS

Samples for leaf analysis should be collected in February and consist of fully expanded basal to mid shoot leaves. Interpretive standards are listed in Table 1.

FERTILISER REQUIREMENTS
The following recommendations are based on the programmes for South African and Californian conditions. Before planting, large amounts of organic matter should be incorporated into the soil.

At planting, 1.5 kg 15% potassic supersphosphate and 0.5 kg ammonium sulphate can be mixed well with the soils replaced in the holes (i.e. about 100 g N, 120 g P, 100 g k).

For trees one to four years of age 1.5 kg 15% potassic superphosphate and 0.5 kg urea should be broadcast under trees; two thirds in August before the spring flush of growth, one third at flowering (i.e. about 250 g N, 120 g P, 100 g K).

Once trees begin to bear 3.0 kg 15% potassic superphosphate and 0.5 kg urea should be broadcast evenly under trees, in split applications as above (i.e. about 500 g N, 240 g P, 200 g K).

FURTHER READING
Catiglione, C. and Glommaert, K.L.J. (1971). Olive Growing. Information Bulletin No. 53, Fruit and Food Technology Research Institute, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Beutel, J., Uriu, K. and Lilleland, O. (1978). Leaf analysis for California deciduous fruits. In: Soil and Plant - Tissue Testing in California (Reisenauer, H.M., Ed), University of California, USA. pp. 11-14.

Perica, S. and Androulakis, I.I. (1994). Effect of Summer Applications of Nitrogen and Potassium Mineral Composition of Olive Leaves. Acta Horticulturae 356: 221-224.