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Crop yield response to water - Cra

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The use of displacement sensors <strong>to</strong> moni<strong>to</strong>r olive trunk growth and trunk diameter fluctuationshas <strong>yield</strong>ed information that confirms the high sensitivity of expansive growth <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong>deficits. These highly sensitive sensors could be used in young, intensive plantations wherethe objective is <strong>to</strong> maximize canopy growth and reach full production as early as possible. Sapflow sensors have also been used <strong>to</strong> determine changes in sap velocity, which are indicative oftranspiration rate and of its changes in <strong>response</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> deficits. All these instruments arestill in the research and development stages and are not yet used commercially for irrigationscheduling.Water RequirementsOlive trees withstand long periods of drought and can survive in very sparse plantings even inclimates with only 150-200 mm annual rainfall. However, economic production requires muchhigher annual precipitation or irrigation. Table 1a summarizes the crop coefficient (K c ) valuesproposed by various authors that have been developed in different environments. The rangeof K c values is quite wide, varying from less than 0.5 <strong>to</strong> about 0.75, average values varyingTable 1a Monthly crop coefficients (K c ) used for olive orchards in different olive-growing regions andrecommended average values.Site, region Latitude ET o Rainfall Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.(mm)(mm)Bibbona,Tuscany43° 16 N 1 000772(30-yearmean)- - - 0.60 0.55 0.65 0.65 - -Metapon<strong>to</strong>,Basilicata40° 22 N 1 270 492 0.7 0.65 0.6 0.55 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.65 -Sassari,Sardinia40° 42 N - - - 0.55 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.55 -Cordoba,Andalusia37° 50 N1 420(mean of3 years)639(mean of3 years)0.65 0.6 0.55 0.55 0.5 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65Fresno,California36° 44 - - 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 -Beneven<strong>to</strong>,Campania41° 06 N1 240(20-yearmean)714(20-yearmean)- - - 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 - -Recommendedvalues, cleancultivated- -0.45 *<strong>to</strong>0.750.45<strong>to</strong>0.750.5 *<strong>to</strong>0.650.55 0.550.5<strong>to</strong>0.550.5<strong>to</strong>0.550.55<strong>to</strong>0.60.6<strong>to</strong>0.650.6<strong>to</strong>0.65* In winter and spring only, the low K c applies <strong>to</strong> dry, cold climates, while the high K c applies <strong>to</strong> areas frequently wetted by rainfall.306crop <strong>yield</strong> <strong>response</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong>

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