Abstract
The interactions between irrigation rates applied during the oil
accumulation stage and crop load were studied in field-grown
Koroneiki (Olea europea L.) olives. The experiment was conducted in a 6-year old super high density orchard. Five irrigation
rates were applied from 1 July until harvest. Fresh fruit yield
increased with increasing irrigation and oil contents (on a fresh
weight basis) decreased dramatically with increasing irrigation
rate due to higher water content. Fruit oil weight decreased
with increasing crop load and with decreasing irrigation rates.
Oil yield increased with increasing irrigation rate from ~3 t/ha
to ~5.5 t/ha. Oil yield was unaffected by irrigation rate at low
crop loads up to about 2 t/ha and showed augmented positive
response with increasing crop load. Our data clearly shows
that irrigation affects oil yield on a fruit basis and its effect
on a per tree basis is highly dependent on crop load. Stomatal
conductance decreased with decreasing stem water potential
but a certain level of stomatal aperture was maintained even at
extremely low water potentials. Higher stomatal conductance
and lower stem water potential were measured in trees with
high crop loads and it was more pronounced in lower irrigation
rates. While crop load did not affect the relationships between
stomatal conductance and stem water potential at the end of
June 2009, some effect could be noticed at the end of August,
and it was well pronounced in early October.
accumulation stage and crop load were studied in field-grown
Koroneiki (Olea europea L.) olives. The experiment was conducted in a 6-year old super high density orchard. Five irrigation
rates were applied from 1 July until harvest. Fresh fruit yield
increased with increasing irrigation and oil contents (on a fresh
weight basis) decreased dramatically with increasing irrigation
rate due to higher water content. Fruit oil weight decreased
with increasing crop load and with decreasing irrigation rates.
Oil yield increased with increasing irrigation rate from ~3 t/ha
to ~5.5 t/ha. Oil yield was unaffected by irrigation rate at low
crop loads up to about 2 t/ha and showed augmented positive
response with increasing crop load. Our data clearly shows
that irrigation affects oil yield on a fruit basis and its effect
on a per tree basis is highly dependent on crop load. Stomatal
conductance decreased with decreasing stem water potential
but a certain level of stomatal aperture was maintained even at
extremely low water potentials. Higher stomatal conductance
and lower stem water potential were measured in trees with
high crop loads and it was more pronounced in lower irrigation
rates. While crop load did not affect the relationships between
stomatal conductance and stem water potential at the end of
June 2009, some effect could be noticed at the end of August,
and it was well pronounced in early October.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S152-S152 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Hortscience: A Publication of the American Society for Hortcultural Science |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| State | Published - Aug 2010 |