Planting density affects vigour and production of ‘Arbequina’ olive

A Larbi,A Ben Dhiab,M Msallem,J M Caballero,M Ayadi

doi:10.5424/sjar/2012104-556-11

Abstract

The hedgerow orchard type is being increasingly used with the olive although not much information is still available about its suitability to this species. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of planting density (312, 416, 625 and 1,250 trees ha-1) on vigour and productive characteristics of ‘Arbequina’ olive trees planted in 2003. Significant linear regressions have been observed between planting density and tree width, trunk cross section area and canopy volume. Increasing planting density showed positive linear correlation (R2=0.63) with canopy volume per hectare. There was a negative correlation between planting density and production per tree in the five first crops, but it was positive with production per hectare both in olive and olive oil production with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.16 to 0.43 and from 0.28 to 0.46, respectively. A significant linear regression (R2= 0.31 and 0.48) was found between planting density and fruit size on two of the studied cropping years. Our results have not allowed establishing any relationship between planting density and fruit oil content. Finally, the studied densities did not affect the oil fatty acid composition. The production increase observed at the highest tried density is linked to the increase in canopy volume per hectare, but these results should be checked at later stages of tree development, as this study covers only until the fifth harvested crop.

Highlights

Since the 60’ of the xx century planting density increase has been used in apple
‘Arbequina’ was the first cultivar used for this new system by its earliness of bearing, just two years after planting (Del Río et al, 2005; Tous et al, 2005a)
The use of an early-bearing cultivar at very high density allows for heavy cropping within a few years after planting (De la Rosa et al, 2007; León et al, 2007; Pastor et al, 2007)

Summary

Introduction

Borkh.) and pear (Pyrus communis L.), giving rise to early and heavy cropping (Vittrup Christensen, 1979; Sansavini & Musacchi, 2002) It has been used as a powerful tool to allow for the mechanization of tech-. Very high density hedgerows should optimise tree spacing between and within rows for optimal interception of radiation by the tree canopies (Pastor et al, 2007), a good control of vigour, either by pruning or by controlled deficit irrigation is compulsory, as new compact cultivars are not tested yet and there are not dwarfing rootstocks (Del Río et al, 2005; Tous et al, 2005b)

Objectives

Methods

Results