Evaluation of four rejuvenation pruning methods on olive tree vegetative growth and yield

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of four rejuvenation pruning methods on olive tree vegetative growth and yield. The study was conducted on a 45-year-old olive orchard of the cultivar 'Nabali Baladi' located in Al-Karak governorate, Jordan. The four pruning methods applied were coppicing of the whole tree at the ground level (T1), rejuvenation by removal of one main branch per year (T2), rejuvenation by crown shoots (T3) and rejuvenation from the underground section of the trunk base (T4). These treatments were compared with the control (traditional pruning). All treatments were applied in February 2008 and, after 3 years (2011, 2012 and 2013), the following measurements were taken: shoot diameter, shoot length, canopy diameter, fruit characters (fruit weight, width, number of fruits per kg) and yield per tree. The results showed that all treatments gave greater shoot diameter, shoot length and canopy diameter after rejuvenation pruning as compared with the control. Average fruit yield produced by all rejuvenated trees was significantly higher than that of the control trees (5.78 kg). The mean yield per tree amounted to 24.71, 22.77, 16.46 and 12.47 kg for treatments T2, T3, T1 and T4, respectively. All the fruit parameters measured including weight, length and width were significantly higher than those of the control.