Effect of deficit irrigation during growth and development of fruit on yield and ‎quality of olive cv. Zard

In this study, effect of deficit irrigation from olive fruit set to ripening stage was investigated. Treatments were control (100ETc), the first one regulated deficit irrigation (RDI1); 100% ETc from fruit set to beginning of fruit ripening and 50% ETc after that to harvesting, the second one regulated deficit irrigation (RDI2); 100% ETc from fruit set to pit hardening and 50% ETc thereafter to harvest, the third one (RDI3); 100% ETc during fruit set to the pit hardening and the beginning of ripening to harvest and 50% ETc at pit hardening, and no irrigation (rainfed). Fruit and oil yield and oil quality characteristics were evaluated. Results showed that the highest yield of fruit (30.41 kg per tree) and olive oil (5.86 kg in dry weight), the least peroxide value (8.33 meq O2/kg) andK270 (0.164), alsothe highest water use efficiency for fruit and oil production (24.24 and 64.4 kg/m3 , respectively) were in RDI3. The least yield of fruit (8.96 kg per tree) and oil (18.1 kg dry weight) and the highest peroxide value (23 meq O2/kg) was observed in rainfed. Overall, results showed that RDI during fruit pit hardening could increase water use efficiency, whitout reducing fruit yield, quality and oil percentage.