Effect of Rejuvenation Pruning on the Vegetative Growth and Productivity in Olive under Hot and Arid Environment of Mexico

Abstract

Currently in Mexico there are few studies on agronomic management in olive production. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate three rejuvenation pruning intensities (25, 33, 50% and Control “traditional pruning”) in olive tree cv Manzanilla under hot and arid environment of Mexico. The experiment was carried out during four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019 at National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) in the Experimental Station Coast of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The experiment was carried out on 25-year-old olive orchard cultivar Manzanilla, planted at distance of 8 x 8 m (156 trees ha-1) and under surface irrigation. The variables evaluated were: vegetative parameters (wood weight, canopy diameter and plant height), olive yield and fruit characteristics (fruit weight and pulp-pit ratio). The experiment was organized as a randomized complete block design with five replications. Our results showed statistical differences (P<0.01) in all parameters evaluated with exception of fruit characteristics. During the rejuvenation process of the olive tree the treatment that obtained the higher yield was pruning with 25% intensity removing one trunk per year, which obtained an average yield in four years of 39.2 kg tree-1, while in the control treatment the yield was of 34.1 kg tree-1. Thus, it is possible to rejuvenate an olive orchard in four years without to affect olive yield.