Influence of foliar spray with some calcium sources on flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit quality of olive Kalmata and Manzanillo cultivars under salt stress

Abstract

Abstract Background This work was carried out through 2017 and 2018 seasons on Kalmata and Manzanillo olive cultivars. Trees were 15 years old, grown in sandy soil and planted at 5 × 5 m apart irrigated with saline water through drip irrigation system. This investigation aimed to improve flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit quality of the tow olive cultivars. Trees were sprayed with calcium at 0.5% as calcium chloride (21% Ca) and chelated calcium. Results The results revealed that there were significant differences with calcium source treatment regarding number of inflorescences/shoot, no. of total flowers/inflorescences, sex expression, initial fruit set, final fruit set (%) and yield/kg (tree) and decreasing fruit drop (%) of olive oil Kalmata and Manzanillo cultivars compared with unsprayed in both seasons. Conclusions Results proved that olive trees sprayed at the end of December with 0.5% calcium as chelated calcium was the promising treatment for good flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit quality.

Keywords

• Olive (Olea europaea L.)
• Kalamata
• Manzanillo
• Calcium chloride
• Chelated calcium
• Flowering