Olive and olive oil quality after intensive monocone olive growing (Olea europaea L., cv. Kalamata) in different irrigation regimes

This work reports the results of a study carried out in an intensive monocone orchard of Olea europaea L. cv. Kalamata, a dual purpose (olive oil and table olives) variety, to investigate the influence of different irrigation regimes on productivity and quality of olives and olive oil. Irrigation regimes did not affect the sugar composition of the fruit, while the content of the phenolic compounds varied. In the water stress condition, olive fruit showed an higher cuticular thickness to prevent the loss of water and nutrients. Olive oil composition did not change with irrigation, except for the total phenols, which decreased. A restitution of 66% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was sufficient to achieve good yields, while higher water volumes (100% of ETc) gave little additional yield increases.