Olive trees of the Alentejo groves region of southern Portugal are embracing intensive and super-intensive cultivation methods and Plantae technology. Installed since 2019, these sensors monitor humidity and temperature in the root zone.
Currently, Plantae sensors are installed in various groves across southern and central Portugal.
Hortiprofissional’s primary mission is to offer high-quality, leading-edge products and technical advice, working closely with its clients. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Sobreiro Curvo, Torres Vedras, the company collaborates as a Plantae partner to serve the agricultural sector.
Alentejo, meaning “beyond the Tagus,” lies between the Tagus River and the Algarve. Its plains and irrigation have shaped its development in recent years, leading to a shift from traditional olive groves to intensive and super-intensive systems.
Plantae technician planning the distribution of sensors in super-intensive olive groves in Portugal
Most common varieties olive trees of the Alentejo
The most common traditional olive varieties in the Alentejo are: Carrasquenha and Cordovil de Serpa.
Currently, young intensive and super-intensive olive groves are planted with:
- Arbequina
- Arbosana
- Koroneiki
- Picual
The Arbequina and Arbosana varieties are very well adapted to intensive and super-intensive cultivation.
With this approach, the Alentejo region is producing 70% of Portugal’s total olive production. Businesses in this area of the Alentejo are relying on Plantae, installing 160 sensors in their intensive olive groves.
The construction of the Alqueva Dam, the largest artificial lake in Europe, provides irrigation to 57,000 hectares, which has benefited this type of cultivation.
These intensive olive trees of the Alentejo have drip irrigation installed:
- May–June → Demand begins to increase; soil moisture and the water status of the olive trees are monitored.
- June–September → Critical period. Frequent drip irrigation is carried out, adjusted to evapotranspiration.
- September–October → Irrigation is gradually reduced as demand decreases and the rains begin.
The most recent studies on the Alentejo region indicate that water management will need to be increasingly precise. A study published in 2026 proposes differentiated guidelines for intensive and super-intensive olive groves, taking into account planting density, soil type, weather conditions, and water conservation strategies.
Objectives for Olive Groves with the Installation of Sensors
- Primarily to control water consumption, especially in summer, when evapotranspiration increases by up to 60% compared to other times of the year.
- To increase production.
- To focus on quality, particularly extra virgin olive oil, for which they have already received quality awards.
- To increase exports worldwide.
- To modernize the sector with cutting-edge technology for planting and harvesting.
- To reduce labor costs.
- To take advantage of the climate of southern Portugal for intensive and super-intensive olive groves with controlled irrigation.
- To increase organic olive production.
Equipment Plantae
Plantae technician installing sensors in drip irrigation-Olive trees of the Alentejo
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