Effect of in-situ moisture conservation on morphology, physiology and production of olives under rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment on effect of in-situ moisture conservation techniques, viz. T1-V-ditch; T2-cresent bund with open catchments pits; T3- trench system and T4- traditional basin system was installed in a rain-fed olive cultivars Leccino and Cipressino grove in the Experimental Orchard of Fruit Science, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Among different soil working techniques, crescent bund with open catchment pits conserved higher soil moisture content at all the observation dates. Blooming intensity, per cent perfect flower and fruit set were also recorded significantly higher in trees under crescent bund with open catchment pits. Higher increase in summer flush growth was observed in the tree under crescent bund with open catchment pits due to higher moisture availability. However, the extent of leaf rolling, leaf yellowing and shoot tip bending were highest under traditional tree basins, which, was however, reduced to the maximum extent in trees under crescent bund with open catchment pits system. Physiolological characteristics, such as photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate and leaf water potential were higher in the tree under crescent bund with open catchments pits. These results suggest that, soil working techniquecrescent bund with open catchment pit can be employed to conserve more soil moisture in rain-fed conditions for improving growth and production of olives.