Potassium effect on growth and water status of olive tree (Olea europea L.) in calcareous soil

Abstract

Calcareous soils with low level of available potassium (K) are relatively common in olive (Olea europea L.) orchards in the Mediterranean regions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of K nutrition on both water status and vegetative growth of olive crop. In order to study the effect of K nutrition on the growth and the water status of the olive tree, an experiment was conducted in pots under greenhouse conditions, in the Research Center and Agricultural Training (CIFA) Alameda del Obispo, Córdoba, Spain. In the experiment, Picual was arranged in a completely randomized block design with three treatments (0, 100 and 200 mg K kg^-1), including a second factor as moisture regime in the culture medium, with two treatments: dry and moist. Results indicated that K application improved shoot length, and mean leaf area under soil conditions of enough available water. Even though no effects were observed on leaf water content, K application reduced transpiration and improved water use efficiency and increased leaf K content.