Articles
Effect of sustained and regulated deficit irrigation on productive parameters of Olea europaea L. ‘Menara’ in Marrakech region (Morocco)
Article number
1422_31
Pages
251 – 258
Language
English
Abstract
The increased frequency of drought and high temperatures threaten agriculture in the Mediterranean region.
Adaptive irrigation strategies can contribute to sustainable horticulture and improving resilience to climate change.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on olive tree productive parameters at different phenological stages.
This should lead to the definition of the optimum strategy for adapting to a limited water supply, particularly in areas where water is scarce, such as Morocco.
An irrigation experiment was conducted over 2021 and 2022 on 12-year-old ‘Menara’ trees planted at the research station of Saada, INRA Marrakech.
The irrigation regimes were studied according to the sensitivity of phenological phases to water stress at (SS) ‘Sensitive Stage’ or (SN) ‘Normal Stage’. The control treatment T0 was fully irrigated (100% ETc) throughout the season.
Four RDI regimes were tested: T1 (SS 100- SN 70% ETc), T2 (SS 100- SN 60% ETc), T3 (SS 80-SN 70% ETc), T4 (SS 80-SN 60% ETc). For SDI, a constant volume of water that is less than the evapotranspiration (ETc) demand during the entire irrigation season was evaluated: T5 (70% ETc) and T6 (60% ETc). The daily irrigation water amounts were estimated by using the FAO-56 approach.
The main productive parameters were assessed such as, shoot length, bud number shoot‑1, and flowering rate (FR). Shoot length and bud number shoot‑1 were significantly affected by irrigation treatments in 2022. The T3 treatment saved up to 24% of total water without significantly affecting flowering parameters, thus demonstrating greater water efficiency and offering promising results for sustainable agriculture.
Adaptive irrigation strategies can contribute to sustainable horticulture and improving resilience to climate change.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on olive tree productive parameters at different phenological stages.
This should lead to the definition of the optimum strategy for adapting to a limited water supply, particularly in areas where water is scarce, such as Morocco.
An irrigation experiment was conducted over 2021 and 2022 on 12-year-old ‘Menara’ trees planted at the research station of Saada, INRA Marrakech.
The irrigation regimes were studied according to the sensitivity of phenological phases to water stress at (SS) ‘Sensitive Stage’ or (SN) ‘Normal Stage’. The control treatment T0 was fully irrigated (100% ETc) throughout the season.
Four RDI regimes were tested: T1 (SS 100- SN 70% ETc), T2 (SS 100- SN 60% ETc), T3 (SS 80-SN 70% ETc), T4 (SS 80-SN 60% ETc). For SDI, a constant volume of water that is less than the evapotranspiration (ETc) demand during the entire irrigation season was evaluated: T5 (70% ETc) and T6 (60% ETc). The daily irrigation water amounts were estimated by using the FAO-56 approach.
The main productive parameters were assessed such as, shoot length, bud number shoot‑1, and flowering rate (FR). Shoot length and bud number shoot‑1 were significantly affected by irrigation treatments in 2022. The T3 treatment saved up to 24% of total water without significantly affecting flowering parameters, thus demonstrating greater water efficiency and offering promising results for sustainable agriculture.
Publication
Authors
K. Ibba, S. Er-Raki, A. Bouizgaren, J. Kassout, V. Boselli, S. Oulbi, R. Hadria
Keywords
olive tree, climate change, flowering performance, adaptation strategies, water management
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