Abstract
A four-year study was conducted on young Olea europaea L. trees to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation starting from the onset of fruit production. Subsurface drip irrigation was used to supply 100% (FI), 46–52% (DI), or 2–6% (SI) of tree water needs. Tree growth was reduced by deficit irrigation, whereas, return bloom was not. Per tree fruit yield of DI trees was 68% that of FI, but fruit yield efficiency based on tree size was similar between treatments. Fruit set and the number of fruits of FI trees were similar to those of DI trees and significantly higher than in SI trees. No significant differences in fruit fresh weight were found between FI and DI. The oil yield and oil yield efficiency of the DI treatment were 82 and 110% that of FI trees, respectively. A level of about 50% deficit proved sustainable to irrigate trees for oil production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beltran G, Uceda M, Hermoso M, Frias L (2004) Maduracion. In: Barranco D, Fernández-Escobar R, Rallo L (eds) El Cultivo del Olivo. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, pp 159–183
Berenguer MJ, Vossen PM, Grattan SR, Connel JH, Polito VS (2006) Tree irrigation levels for optimum chemical and sensory proprieties of olive oil. Hort Sci 41:427–432
Costagli G, Gucci R, Rapoport HF (2003) Growth and development of fruits of olive Frantoio under irrigated and rained conditions. J Hort Sci Biotech 78:119–124
Doorenbos J, Pruitt WO (1997) Guidelines for predicting crop water requirements. FAO irrigation and drainage paper no. 24. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome
FAO, ISRIC, ISSS (1998) World reference base for soil resources. 84 World soil resources reports. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome
Gomez-Rico A, Salvador MD, Moriana A, Perez D, Olmedilla N, Ribas F, Fregapane G (2007) Influence of different irrigation strategies in a traditional Cornicabra cv. olive orchard on virgin olive oil composition and quality. Food Chem 100:568–578
Greven M, Neal S, Green S, Dichio B, Clothier B (2009) The effects of drought on the water use, fruit development and oil yield from young olive trees. Agric Water Manag 96:1525–1531
Gucci R, Cantini C (2000) Pruning and training system for modern olive growing. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood
Gucci R, Lodolini E, Rapoport HF (2007) Productivity of olive tree with different water status and crop load. J Hort Sci Biotech 82:648–656
Gucci R, Lodolini EM, Rapoport HF (2009) Water deficit-induced changes in mesocarp cellular processes and the relationship between mesocarp and endocarp during olive fruit development. Tree Physiol 29:1575–1585
Iniesta F, Testi L, Orgaz F, Villalobos FJ (2009) The effects of regulated and continuos deficit irrigation on the water use, growth and yield of olive trees. Eur J Agron 30:258–265
Lavee S, Hanoch E, Wodner M, Abramowitch E (2007) The effect of predetermined deficit irrigation on the performance of cv. Muhasan olives (O. europaea L.) in the eastern coastal plain of Israel. Sci Hort 99:267–277
Melgar JC, Mohamed Y, Navarro C, Parra MA, Benlloch M, Fernández-Escobar R (2008) Long-term growth and yield responses of olive trees to different irrigation regime. Agr Water Manag 95:968–972
Moriana A, Orgaz F, Pastor M, Fereres E (2003) Yield responses of a mature olive orchard to water deficits. J Am Soc Hort Sci 123:425–431
Motilva MJ, Tovar MJ, Romero MP, Alegre S, Girona J (2000) Influence of regulated deficit irrigation strategies applied to olive trees (Arbequina cultivar) on oil yield and oil composition during the fruit ripening period. J Sci Food Agr 80:2037–2043
Nahal I (1981) The Mediterranean climate from a biological viewpoint. In: Di Castri F, Goodall DW, Specht RL (eds) Mediterranean-type shrub lands. Ecosystems of the World 11. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 63–86
Orgaz F, Fereres E (1999) Riego. In: Barranco D, Fernández-Escobar R, Rallo L (eds) El Cultivo del Olivo. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, pp 269–288
Patumi M, d’Andria R, Fontanazza G, Morelli G, Giorio P, Sorrentino G (1999) Yield and oil quality of intensively trained trees of 3 cultivars of olive (O. europaea L.) under different irrigation regimes. J Hort Sci Biotech 74:729–737
Patumi M, d’Andria R, Marsilio V, Fontanazza G, Morelli G, Lanza B (2002) Olive and olive oil quality after intensive monocone olive growing (O. europaea L., cv. Kalamata) in different irrigation regimes. Food Chem 77:27–34
Pérez-López D, Ribas F, Moriana A, Olmedilla N, de Juan A (2007) The effect of irrigation schedules on the water relations and growth of a young olive (O. europaea L.) orchard. Agric Water Manag 89:297–304
Rapoport HF, Rallo L (1991) Post-anthesis flower and fruit abscission in Manzanillo olive. J Am Soc Hort Sci 116:720–723
Rapoport HF, Costagli G, Gucci R (2004) The effect of water deficit during early fruit development on olive fruit morphogenesis. J Am Soc Hort Sci 129:121–127
Saxton KE, Rawls WJ (2006) Soil water characteristic estimates by texture and organic matter for hydrologic solutions. Soil Sci Soc Am J 70:1569–1578
Servili M, Esposto S, Lodolini E, Selvaggini R, Taticchi A, Urbani S, Montedoro GF, Serravalle M, Gucci R (2007) Irrigation effects on quality, phenolic composition and selected volatiles of virgin olive oil cv. Leccino. J Agric Food Chem 55:6609–6618
Tognetti R, d’Andria R, Lavini A, Morelli G (2006) The effect of deficit irrigation on crop yield and vegetative development of O. europaea L. (cvs. Frantoio and Leccino). Eur J Agron 25:356–364
Turner NC, Long MJ (1980) Errors arising from rapid water loss in the chamber technique. Aust J Plant Physiol 7:527–537
Walter H, Lieth H (1967) Klimadiagramm-Weltatlas. Fischer-Verlag, Jena
Acknowledgments
We thank Michele Bernardini, Maurizio Gentili and Rolando Calabrò for excellent technical assistance. The irrigation system was kindly supplied by Netafim Italia. Research supported by UNAPROL-Italy projects Reg. UE no. 2080/2005 and no. 867/2008.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by E. Fereres.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caruso, G., Rapoport, H.F. & Gucci, R. Long-term evaluation of yield components of young olive trees during the onset of fruit production under different irrigation regimes. Irrig Sci 31, 37–47 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-011-0286-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-011-0286-0