Leaf Mineral Composition of Olive Varieties and Their Relation to Yield and Adaptation Ability

ABSTRACT

The amount of yield and adaptation of a cultivar to a new environment is strongly related to nutrient uptake ability. The aim of this study was to compare nutrient uptake ability of 21 local and/or standard olive varieties grown under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Elemental compositions of olive leaves were determined for two consecutive years. The highest yields were obtained from ‘Gemlik’, ‘Manzanilla’, ‘Memecik’, and ‘Hojiblanca’ varieties. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) content of leaves were comparatively higher in the high-yielding year (2004) whereas iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) contents were lower. Nutrient uptake ability and usage efficiency of olive varieties were different. Mineral composition of leaves was variety dependent and different groups of varieties showed higher leaf concentration for each element. Therefore, it can be concluded that the variation in the nutrient uptake ability may be used as a criterion for adaptation of a variety to a new ecological environment.

Keywords:

• yield
• elemental composition
• adaptation
• olive varieties

Notes

∗CaCO₃ equivalent. CL clay loam, SC sandy clay, OM organic matter

∗Values are means of six replications. Means separations by Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P < 0.05.

∗∗Deficiency threshold values were given according to Fernandez-Escobar et al. (1999).

∗Values are means of six replications. Means separations by Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P < 0.05.

∗∗Deficiency threshold values were given according to Fernandez-Escobar et al. (1999).

∗Values are means of six replications. Means separations by Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P < 0.05.

∗∗Deficiency threshold values were given according to Fernandez-Escobar et al. (1999).

∗Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed) and

∗∗at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).