Water Use by the Olive Tree

Summary

This is a review of water use by the olive tree, in which the most-relevant knowledge from the literature is combined with key results from experiments just finished or currently in progress. We describe the plant characteristics and mechanisms conferring drought tolerance on the olive tree. The root system functionality, hydraulic characteristics of the conductive system, leaf water relations, and transpiration behavior are considered. We explain the most-advanced techniques for optimizing irrigation, based on a more accurate calculation of the crop water needs. The crop responses to deficit irrigation strategies and to the use of wastewater for irrigation are also included.

Key Words:

• Olive
• irrigation
• evapotranspiration
• drought
• roots
• sap flow
• hydraulic characteristics
• leaf water relations
• orchard management