Effects of water regimes on ®ve pickling and double aptitude olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.)
2004
d'Andria, Riccardo | Lavini, Antonella | Morelli, Giovanni | Patumi, Maurizio | Terenziani, Stefano | Calandrelli, Davide | Fragnito, Fulvio
Tree development, yield and quality characteristics of fresh fruit and oil were evaluated under different water regimes for ®ve years. The olive cultivars Ascolana Tenera, Kalamata, Nocellara del Belice, Maiatica and Itrana were tested in a factorial combination of four irrigation regimes: a rainfed control (T₀) and three treatments (T₁, T₂, and T₃) irrigated daily with a restitution of 33, 66, and 66% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). In all years the lowest values of soil water content and xylem potential were detected in September and early October in T₀, during the phenological phase of rapid enlargement of fruit cells, while values were near ®eld capacity during the irrigation season in treatment T₃. Growth parameters such as canopy, trunk cross section area and pruned wood showed little differences between the rain-fed control and the lowest irrigation level and between treatment T₂ and T₃ while differences were evident between the control and treatment T₂. Yield, fruit size, pulp-stone ratio and dry-matter content of fruit peaked at an irrigation depth of 66% of ETc, while higher volumes did not signi®cantly increase yield, suggesting that complete replacement of water loss by the crop is not recommended. Only `Kalamata' showed a higher yield of T₃ over T₂. Irrigation regimes did not affect the oil content calculated on dry-weight basis and the increase in oil per hectare was explained according to the increase in fruit dry matter content and number of fruit for `Kalamata'. The fatty acid composition, sugar and acid content of the oil were not affected by irrigation, while the total polyphenol decreased up to treatment T₂. In the most irrigated treatment bitterness and pungency of the oil slightly decreased as compared with the rainfed control, while fruiting was unaffected by irrigation.
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