MAXIMIZING OLIVES PRODUCTIVITY UNDER INSUFFICIENT CHILLING REQUIREMENTS CONDITIONS

Abstract

This work was conducted throughout two successive seasons of (2011& 2012) on 15-years-old “Aggezi Shamy” and “Picual” olive trees. The trees were raised by cuttings and, planted at 6X6 m. (120 trees/fed.) apart in a sandy soil of a great private orchard at ALKhatatba, Minufiya Governorate, Egypt at 30.6 N latitude, 31.01 S longitude, at an elevation of 17.9 m above sea level, owned by Mr. Fouad Cheeded. They were of normal growth, uniform in vigour and subjected to drip irrigation system. 198 bearing trees were selected and divided into 22 treatments in three replicates (each of three trees) and arranged in a randomized complete block design. This experiment was conucted during 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The treatments results can be summarized as follow: 1. Effect of Kaolin and calcium carbonate. 1- Vegetative growth. Kaolin and calcium carbonate improved the vegetative growth of Aggezi and Picual cvs. No. of leaves of Aggezi cv. were affected significantly with kaolin in mid Jan., and in mid Feb. for Picual cv. Whereas, kaolin in mid Feb. influenced significantly the leaf area of Aggezi cv. and kaolin gave the same effect in mid dec. on Picual cv. Kaolin in mid Dec. increased significantly the internodes length of both cultivars in both seasons. 2- Blooming. Kaolin in mid Dec. gave the highest significant values of No. of inflorescence on Aggezi and Picual cvs. In regard to length of inflorescence performed the superior value as affected by kaolin in mid Feb. on Aggezi, meantime the total No. of flowers of Picual cv. was affected by kaolin in mid Dec. In regard to the No. of perfect flowers of Aggezi cv. influenced - 123 - significantly by calcium carbonate in mid Dec., whereas, kaolin in mid Feb. gave the highest significant differences for Picual cv. Sex expression of Aggezi cv. was affected significantly by calcium carbonate in mid Dec and Kaolin in mid Feb., while Picual was affected by kaolin in mid Feb. Kaolin mid Dec affected Aggezi and Picual flower density. 3- Fruit aspects. Concerning fruit aspects as fruit set, No. of fruits /m and yield as Kg/tree were affected significantly by kaolin in mid Dec. in both cultivars and in both seasons. 4- Fruit characteristics. Longitudinal fruit length, equatorial fruit diameter and fruit weight were affected by kaolin mid Dec. which influenced length and diameter for Aggezi. Whereas, calcium carbonate in mid Jan. influenced Picual cv.. As for fruit weight was affected by kaolin in mid Feb. 5- Fruit chemical content. Fruit moisture content (%) of Aggezi cv. was affected by calcium carbonate in mid Dec. and mid Feb., while as, Picual cv. didn‟t show definite trend. Oil percentage in Aggezi was affected by calcium carbonate in mid Feb. II. Effect of Girdling and ringing. 1- Vegetative growth. The effect of single ringing, double ringing and girdling (5mm) on vegetative growth of Aggezi Shamy and Picual cvs. improved the vegetative growth of Aggezi and Picual cvs., as No. of leaves of Aggezi cv. were affected significantly with single ringing in mid Dec.. The girdling in mid Dec. and the double ringing in mid Jan. in Picual cv. gave the highest significant values of No. of leaves per meter in both - 124 - seasons. Whereas double ringing in mid Dec., and Jan. influenced significantly the leaf area of Aggezi cv. and girdling in mid Dec. gave the same effect on Picual cv.. Double ringing in mid Dec. increased significantly the internodes length of both cultivars in both seasons. 2- Blooming. Double ringing