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The influence of irrigation level on olive tree nutritional status

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Abstract

While modernization of olive cultivation has recently lead to vast expansion of fully irrigated orchards, characterization of olive tree nutritional status remains based on knowledge gleamed from rain-fed orchards. In the present study, the effect of irrigation level on olive tree nutritional status was investigated in Israel over 4 years on two cultivars and in two locations characterized by differences in soil, tree age, management history, fertilizer application and irrigation water quality. Diagnostic leaves, sampled in July, were evaluated as indicators of nutritional status. Leaf nitrogen concentration was not affected by irrigation level. Leaf phosphorous and potassium concentrations increased with increasing irrigation level. Leaf calcium, manganese and iron tended to decrease with irrigation, while magnesium, sodium and zinc concentrations were not generally affected by irrigation level. Leaf boron and chloride concentrations increased with increasing irrigation when their concentration in irrigation water was relatively high. Leaf nutrient concentration was influenced by cultivar. The results presented in this study emphasize a strong link between irrigation level and the nutritional status of olives for some nutrients and no association for others. These findings should aid in developing distinct fertilization recommendations for fully irrigated olives, different from those developed and used for rain-fed or supplemental-irrigated orchards.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by The Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (project #303-0300), the Netafim Company, The USDA-ARS via The Middle East Regional Irrigation Management Information System (MERIMIS), and the Middle East Regional Cooperation fund of AID (grant #TA-MOU-10-M30-032). Special appreciation to the Abu-Tuama family and TZAB”AR KA”MA for allowing use of their commercial orchards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, 85280, Mobile Post Negev 2, Israel

    Isaac Zipori, Ran Erel & Arnon Dag

  2. Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, 85280, Mobile Post Negev 2, Israel

    Uri Yermiyahu, Eugene Presnov, Inna Faingold & Alon Ben-Gal

Authors
  1. Isaac Zipori
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  2. Uri Yermiyahu
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  3. Ran Erel
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  4. Eugene Presnov
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  5. Inna Faingold
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  6. Alon Ben-Gal
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  7. Arnon Dag
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alon Ben-Gal.

Additional information

Communicated by V. Sadras.

Uri Yermiyahu, Alon Ben-Gal, and Arnon Dag have contributed equally to this work.

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Zipori, I., Yermiyahu, U., Erel, R. et al. The influence of irrigation level on olive tree nutritional status. Irrig Sci 33, 277–287 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-015-0465-5

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