Sustainability of olive production is possible by adopting the modern techniques of irrigation and fertilization. In Tunisia, olive trees are usually cultivated in poor soils, under semi-arid conditions characterized by water scarcity. This study investigated the effects of different water supply and fertilization on leaf water status and crop yield of three different olive oil varieties cultivated in central Tunisia, during four experimental seasons (2014–2017). Three treatments were examined: trees conducted under rainfed conditions (TRF), which represented the control treatment, trees irrigated with 50% ET_c (T50) and, finally, trees irrigated with 50% ET_c and with additional fertilization (T50F). Leaf water content and potential, yield and water use efficiency have been monitored on three different varieties, Chetoui, Chemlali, and Koroneiki, which are quite typical in the considered region. For all the growing seasons, midday leaf water potentials were measured from April to September. Midday leaf water potentials (MLWP) were generally higher for the two irrigated treatments (T50 and T50F) than for non-irrigated trees (TRF). As the season proceeded, MLWPs tended to decrease during summer for all the treatments and varieties. The lowest values were observed for the non-irrigated trees, varying between −3.25 MPa to −4.75 MPa. Relative leaf water content followed the same trends of midday leaf water potentials. Chetoui showed the lowest yield, which did not exceed 1530 Kg/(ha year), even for irrigated and fertilized trees. On the other hand, the yields of Chemlali and Koroneiki, cumulated in the four years, reached the maximum value of about 20 tons/ha. For these two varieties, the cumulated yield obtained in the control treatment (TRF) resulted significantly lower than the corresponding of the other two treatments (T50 and T50F). The highest irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) was estimated for Chemlali (T50) and (TRF). WUE was equal to 1.22 Kg/m³ for Koroneiki under fertigated treatment (T50F). Application of the only water supply (50% ET_c) or associated with fertilizer improved the tree water status and increased the productivity of Chemlali and Koroneiki varieties.

Understanding growth rate in woody plants is an essential criterion for the establishment of tree architecture, and therefore of future tree form. Olive seedlings exist as three main tree structures: bushy, mixed, and tree-form. Growth dynamics were observed on different types of shoots of these different forms throughout the growing season. Both primary growth (elongation and developed metamers) and secondary growth (basal diameter increment) were considered. To study the inter-annual pattern of shoot growth, simple linear regressions were performed between shoot properties measured at the beginning and at the end of the vegetative season. Positive correlations were obtained for all growth parameters. Allometric relationships between primary and secondary growth indicated that the increment in basal diameter was related to primary growth. Bud size and the contents of primordia were compared to the structure of the future shoot and leaves produced after the Spring and Autumn growth flushes. Shoots were entirely preformed in the bushy form. Mixed- and tree form-types had a preformed portion, followed by a neoformed portion. Mathematical models on olive growth were developed based on growth dynamic parameters. Elongation and metamer numbers showed a tri-sigmoid evolution (two Spring flushes and an Autumn flush) which was modelled by theoretical equations defined by tri-logistic functions, and characterised by nine parameters. Secondary growth was also represented by three logistic shapes, indicating three phases of girth expansion on all three forms. These results indicate that olive tree growth is rhythmic under the rain-fed conditions of Tunisia.

Fruits is a scientific journal for original articles and reviews on fruit crops in temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical regions