THE EFFECT OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSTRATE ON THE CINETIC GROWTH OF YOUNG OLIVE PLANTS IN THE ACCLIMATIZATION PHASE: VEGETATIVE GROWTH

Semi-hardwood olive cuttings are difficult to root, thus impairing to a large extent the vegetative propagation of Tunisian varities.
In addition, a number of rooted cuttings do not survive acclimatization and hardening phases due to water, substrate, and other stresses.
Losses can thus reach more than 30 %. To decrease plant losses in the nursery and to improve vegetative and root growth, 2-month-old plants of cvs.
Chemlali and Meski, two Tunisian varieties for oil and table, respectively, were grown on five substrates differing in texture, pH, and organic matter composition: S1 (sandy loam); S2 (silty soil); S3 (silty soil + leaf mould, 0.5:0.5); S4 (sandy loam +leaf mould, 0.5:0.5) and S5 (silty soil+perlite, 0.5:0.5). The trial was conducted under conditions favouring maximum development of the plants.
After nine months, the growth rate was estimated by measuring the cumulative shoot length, the total number of leaves, and the root:shoot ratio.
Cumulative shoot lengths were 56, 67, 74, 95 and 84 cm in cv.
Chemlali and 19, 29, 24, 39, and32 cm in cv.
Meski grown on substrate S1, S2, S3, S4, and S, respectively.
The light substrates containing an optimal proportion of organic matter (S4 and S5) induced the best vegetative growth, the highest number of leaves and the best root:shoot ratio.The results of this study indicate that is it possible to decrease plant losses in the nursery, accelerate plant growth and will improve survival after transplanting in the field.

IV International Symposium on Olive Growing

W. Khabou

olive tree, rooted cutting, substrate, vegetative growth, dry matter.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.586.192