Study of Irrigation Interval and Mulch Effects on Vegetative Growth of Olive in Kermanshah Province

In order to determine the effect of irrigation interval and mulch on growth of olive an experiment was carried out in Dallaho Olive Research Station at Sarepole. A split plot experiment was used based on a completely randomized design with three replications and two factors (mulch and irrigation interval). Each experiment unit consists of 4 trees. Land preparation was done in February 2005 in a 6048 squared meter area then tree planted. Pruning operation was done in next year. Mulch treatments for experiment were control، polyethylene and organic materials and irrigation treatments period for experiment were 3، 6 and10 days interval. Some growth traits including height، trunk diameter and current season growth were measured at the end of growth season. Collected data were analyzed with MSTATC program. Results showed that organic materials mulch and interval irrigation treatments had significant differences in height، trunk diameter and current season growth so that organic materials mulch and 3 days interval irrigation treatments increased height، trunk diameter and current season growth of olive trees. The interaction effect between mulch and irrigation treatments was significance. So that 3 days interval irrigation and organic materials mulch had the highest height، trunk diameter and current season growth. 6 days interval irrigation supplemented with mulch treatment had more significant effect on these traits compared to 3 days interval irrigation alone.