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Abstract: Important savings in the levels of irrigation without an associated penalty in yield have been reported for olive under deficit irrigation strategies. Full irrigation (C), continuous deficit irrigation (CDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were compared from 2004 to 2006 in Cordoba, southern Spain, in terms of seasonal evapotranspiration (ET), growth and yield in mature olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. ‘Arbequina’). In deficit treatments, the total amount of irrigation was around 25% of that of the Control while ET was 65–70% of that of C. Deficit treatments strongly reduced vegetative growth, but only slightly reduced the final fruit volume. Water stress caused a higher reduction in fresh fruit yield than oil yield due to a higher oil concentration in deficit irrigated trees, without differences between CDI and RDI. Therefore, both irrigation strategies may be used in olive to save a significant amount of irrigation with moderate reductions (about 15%) in oil yield. The amount of oil produced per unit intercepted PAR was almost the same for all the treatments, which suggests that olive oil yield may be calculated from intercepted radiation even under moderate water stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Little information is available on carbon exchange of olive orchards despite their agronomical and ecological importance. Measurements of CO2 and water vapour exchange were performed during 2006 and 2007 with large closed chambers in an olive orchard in Cordoba (Spain) under two irrigation regimes, full and regulated deficit irrigation. Canopy assimilation was higher for full (10.8–21.3gCO2 m−2 day−1) than for deficit irrigation (5.1–17.4gCO2 m−2 day−1). Forty-five percent of gross assimilation was lost in respiration being root respiration less than 30% of total respiration. Water use efficiency (WUE) typically decreased from maximum values around 30gCO2 L−1 soon after sunrise to 2–7gCO2 L−1 in the afternoon when vapour pressure deficit typically exceeded 5kPa. While water stress improved instantaneous WUE only slightly, the effect was dramatic for daily values. The measurements allowed the calibration of a model coupling canopy conductance and assimilation that showed a seasonal variation in the parameters suggesting changes in the physiology of olive trees. The improvement of WUE in olive trees under water stress supports the adoption of deficit irrigation in olive orchards although further research is required to prevent negative side effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]