Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Olive Fruit (Zard Cultivar) in Kermanshah Province

To study the effect of deficit irrigation on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of olive fruit (Zard cultivar), an experiment was conducted with five treatments based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications during 2016–17 in Javanmiri region (west of Kermanshah province). Treatments consisted of five irrigation regimes: Full irrigation (control); non-irrigation during pit hardening and full irrigation in other stages; irrigation in three stages (before flowering, the start of pit hardening and a week before harvesting); irrigation for 60% of the water requirement and no irrigation (rainfed). In this study, traits of fruit weight, length and diameter, pit weight, flesh weight, flesh to pit ratio, fruit moisture percent, fruit yield and water use efficiency were measured. The results showed that the effect of irrigation regime and interaction of irrigation regime and year on fruit weight and size, flesh weight and fruit yield were significant. Non-irrigation during pit hardening increased the yield, weight and size of fruit, as well as flesh weight. The lowest yield, weight and size of fruit, and flesh weight were observed in rainfed conditions. The highest water use efficiency (5.51 Kgm-3) was obtained by irrigation in three stages (before flowering, the start of pit hardening and a week before harvesting).