Regulated deficit irrigation in table olive trees during a sensitive period

Abstract

Olive tree is one of the most important irrigated fruit at Spain (around 400.000 ha). The water needs in olive orchard are greater than the water availability. Therefore, deficit conditions are common at the field. The aim of this work is to study a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) scheduling based on midday stem water potential (Y) that limits irrigation before harvest. The experiment was performed at La Hampa experimental farm (Coria del río, Seville, Spain) in 45 years-old olive (cv Manzanillo). Three irrigation treatments in a complete randomized block design were performed during 2014.