The influence of bearing cycles on olive oil production response to irrigation |
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Authors: | A Ben-Gal U Yermiyahu I Zipori E Presnov E Hanoch A Dag |
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Institution: | (1) Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, 85280 Mobile Post Negev II, Israel;(2) Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, 85280 Mobile Post Negev II, Israel;(3) The Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bet-Dagan, Israel |
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Abstract: | Water requirements for olive oil production and the effects of deficit irrigation were determined while considering the relative
fruit loads on trees occurring as a result of biennial bearing cycles. Two Israeli olive (Olea europaea) varieties (Barnea and Souri) were evaluated for growth and yield parameters in a 4-year field study where five relative
irrigation rates were applied. Increasing irrigation increased stem water potential, vegetative growth, and olive fruit yield
with the increases tapering off at application rates reaching 75–100% of potential crop evapotranspiration. Tree water status,
growth, and fruit characteristic parameters were highly affected by both fruit load and by irrigation level. Oil yield increases
as a function of increased irrigation were initiated for each cultivar only following an ‘off’ season when the treatments
lead to higher vegetative growth. The increased oil yields as a function of increased irrigation were primarily explained
by higher tree-scale capacity for carrying fruit, especially as irrigation alleviated measureable water stress. For the Barnea
cultivar in ‘on’ years, a secondary effect due to increased oil per fruit as irrigation increased was evident, particularly
at the higher application rates. |
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