Summer deficit-irrigation strategies in a hedgerow olive orchard cv. ‘Arbequina’: effect on fruit characteristics and yield

Abstract

Maximum production in hedgerow olive orchards is likely not achieved with maximum evapotranspiration over the long-term. Thus, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) should be considered as a management option. Four irrigation treatments were evaluated during the summer when olive is most drought resistant. Control (CON) was irrigated to maintain the rootzone close to field capacity. Severe water deficit was applied by irrigating 30% CON from end of fruit drop to end July (DI-J) and from end July until beginning of oil synthesis (DI-A). Less severe water deficit was applied during July and August (DI-JA) by irrigating 50% CON. Flowering, fruiting, abscission, fruit development, fresh and dry weight of fruits, and oil production were evaluated. There were not significant differences in number of buds initiated, number of fruits per inflorescence and fruit drop. Oil production was significantly different between irrigation treatments in all experimental years. CON produced more oil and fruit with higher oil% than DI-A and DI-JA. Oil production of DI-J was not significantly reduced compared to CON and oil% was greater. DI-J was the most effective RDI strategy; with 16% less applied water relative to CON average loss in oil production of 8% was not significantly different to CON. While DI-JA saved most water (27%), oil production was reduced by 15%. Greatest loss in oil production (21%) was observed in DI-A with water saving of 22%.

Summer deficit irrigation in a hedgerow olive orchard cv. Arbequina: relationship between soil and tree water status, and growth and yield components

“…4). In this experiment crop load did not affect Ψ stem (Gucci et al, 2007;Trentacoste et al, 2011) because fruit number was not significantly modified by irrigation treatments (Gómez-del-Campo, 2013).…”

“…Large differences between years were observed in fruit characteristics at the end of the treatment period (late August-beginning of September) (Table 4) and oil production at harvest (Gómez-del-Campo, 2013 Fruit characteristics (olive dry weight and oil content), responded to irrigation in the 2008 and 2009 seasons (Table 4). Fruit dry weight and fruit oil content (g fruit -1 ) were higher in CON compared with DI-JA.…”

“…In a previous paper, the crop and oil-yield data as well as reproductive components of this experiment were reported (Gómez-del-Campo, 2013). The objectives of the present study are to analyze interactions of soil-and tree-water status with components of fruit yield and shoot growth of trees in a superintensive hedgerow olive orchards (4 × 2 m) subjected to RDI strategies during summer and to establish threshold values of Ψ stem .…”

Sprouts seasonal elongation of two olive cultivars in a high-density orchard

“…Several physiological and agronomic aspects are already started to be studied for high-density olive orchards: light interception [5], soil management [6], irrigation [7,8], harvesting time [9]. Moreover, in the literature some vegetative and productive parameters are considered in order to assess the varietal response since considerable differences are observed among different cultivars, mainly depending on both growth habit and vigour [1,2,4,10].…”

An Index From Sap Flow Records to Schedule Irrigation in Super-High Density Olive Orchards

“…This causes low radiation interception by the lower part of the canopy, it hampers mechanical harvesting and, in the end, it might shorten the productive life of the orchard (Connor 2006, León et al, 2007. Both sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) are used in SHD olive orchards (Grattan et al, 2006;Gómez-del-Campo, 2011). With RDI irrigation amounts (IA) can be adjusted to changes in the sensitivity of the olive tree to water stress depending on the phenological stage.…”