Preliminary Evaluation of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars under Hot and Arid Environment of Mexico
Raúl Leonel Grijalva-Contreras *
National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) Experimental Station of the Coast of Hermosillo, Pascual Encinas Félix No. 21, Colonia la Manga, Postal Code 83220, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Rubén Macías-Duarte
National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) Experimental Station of the Coast of Hermosillo, Pascual Encinas Félix No. 21, Colonia la Manga, Postal Code 83220, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Arturo López-Carvajal
National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) Experimental Station of the Coast of Hermosillo, Pascual Encinas Félix No. 21, Colonia la Manga, Postal Code 83220, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
Fabián Robles-Contreras
National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) Experimental Station of the Coast of Hermosillo, Pascual Encinas Félix No. 21, Colonia la Manga, Postal Code 83220, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
Manuel de Jesús Valenzuela-Ruiz
National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) Experimental Station of the Coast of Hermosillo, Pascual Encinas Félix No. 21, Colonia la Manga, Postal Code 83220, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Fidel Núñez-Ramirez
Science Agriculture Institute, Autonomous of Baja California University (ICA-UABC), Carretera Delta s/n Ejido Nuevo León, Postal Code 21705. Baja California, México.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Currently in Mexico there are few studies on agronomic management in olive production. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate eleven olive cultivars for table and oil production (Arbequina, Koroneiki, Arbosana, Kalamata, Barnea, Pendolino, Empeltre, Manzanilla of Sevilla, Carboncella, Frantoio and Cassaliva) under hot and arid environment of Mexico. The experiment was carried out during two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016 at National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) in the Experimental Station of Caborca, Sonora, Mexico. The plantation was done on March, 2012 using a density of 100 trees ha-1 (10 x 10 m) under drip irrigation system. The parameters evaluated were vegetative parameters, yield, fruit quality and oil content. The experiment was analyzed using a randomized complete block design and five replications. The results showed statistical differences for all parameters evaluated. Arbequina obtained the highest olive yield with 34.5 and 70.3 kg per tree for the first and second year production, respectively and Barnea recorded the highest oil content with 19.2%. Finally, Manzanilla of Sevilla and Barnea varieties represent a good option as double-purpose varieties.
Keywords: Cultivars, desert condition, fruit quality, olive, oil content, yield