3 research outputs found
Long-term evaluation of yield components of young olive trees during the onset of fruit production under different irrigation regimes
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. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.Research supported by UNAPROL-Italy projects Reg. UE no. 2080/2005 and no. 867/2008.Peer Reviewe
Long-term evaluation of yield components of young olive trees during the onset of fruit production under different irrigation regimes
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 productio