Effects of water regimes on ®ve pickling and double aptitude olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.)

SummaryTree 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...