Impact of Different Levels of Supplemental Irrigation on Olive

Productivity

N. El Jouni1, M. Hayek1, F. Ayesh1, V. Nangia3, M. Karrou2 and T. Oweis2

1General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (Syria) 1International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

(Jordan/Morocco)

Study general objectives

• To enhance crop yields of smallholder olive farmers through the optimization of water management practices applied to olive cultivation

• Improved and more stable olive yields are going to lead to improved earnings and livelihoods for the targeted smallholder farmers

Specific objectives

• To increase yield of olive groves in the target areas by using advanced strategies

• To minimize yearly fluctuations in yield, and securing more stable farm income

• To increase water productivity of irrigated olive

Syria

Rainfall ~ 300-400 mm

Treatments (2 replicates of each)

Rainfed (control)

Irrigate at 100% CWR

Irrigate at 50% CWR

Results

• 2012

678

515

353

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

100% ETc 50% ETc Rainfed

Wat

er

app

lied

(ra

infa

ll +

irri

gati

on

, mm

)

Treatment

Olive Yield 11076

9828

7368

9984

7956

4056

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

100% ETc 50% ETc Rainfed

Yie

ld (

kg/h

a)

Treatment

Sorani cv.

Jlout cv.

Oil Yield

2437 2345

1178 1268 1218

769

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

100% ETc 50% ETc Rainfed

Oil

yie

ld (

kg/h

a)

Treatment

Water Productivity

1.63

1.91 2.09

1.47 1.54

1.15

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

100% ETc 50% ETc Rainfed

Wat

er

pro

du

ctiv

ity

(kg

/m3 E

T)

Treatment

Key results from 2012 data

• 50% ETc (353 mm rainfall + 162 mm irrigation) compared to rainfed plantation,

– fruit yield increased by 2,460 (33%) to 3,900 (96%) kg/ha

– Yield of Sorani cv. was always higher than Jlout cv. at all locations

– Water productivity ranged between 1.1 and 2.1 kg/m3 ET

– There was a further increase of 1,250 (13%) to 2,030 (25%) kg/ha by switching from 50% ETc to 100% ETc

Key results from 2012 data (cont’d)

The lowest WP was found for rainfed Sorani cv. at farmer’s field and highest for rainfed Sorani cv. at experimental station in Dara’a,

but yields were always higher for irrigated olives plantations compared to rainfed proving that there is a loss of yield if we do not irrigate

In terms of percentage oil extracted from fruit, Sorani cv. grown under 50% ETc treatment produced highest values (24%)

Key results from 2013 data (not shown here)

• Yields increased by as much as 113% (4,056 kg/ha vs. 8,580 kg/ha) when 142 mm of irrigation was applied (in addition to 416 mm rainfall) by drip

• A further increase of 1,560 kg/ha (21%) was achieved by applying additional 142 mm of irrigation (100% ETc) in addition to the rainfall

Statistical Analyses Differences (P < 0.05)

• Cultivar

• Irrigation treatment

• Oil yield

• Oil WP

• Olive yield

Cost-benefit Analysis Practices 100% Treatment 50% Treatment Rainfed Treatment

Inputs: Cost (SYP)

Land preparation 15,000 15,000 10,000

Fertilization 36,000 36,000 18,000

Pesticides 20,000 20,000 20,000

Irrigation 43,700 22,000 0

Harvest 66,456 58,968 34,944

Miscellaneous 42,000 42,000 22,000

Total 223,156 193,968 104,944

Revenues: Jlut Sorani Jlut Sorani Jlut Sorani

Fruit yield (kg/ha) 9,750 10,320 8,060 8,586 4,446 4,816

Income (per ha) 349,440 387,660 278,460 343,980 141,960 152,880

Net profit (per ha) 126,284 164,504 84,492 150,012 37,016 47,936

Net profit (US$/ha) 2,526 3,290 1,690 3,000 740 960

US$ increase from

rainfed treatment (%)

1,786

(241%)

2,330

(243%)

950

(130%)

2,040

(213%)

- -

Overarching conclusions

• Applying a small amount of water by drip irrigation, in addition to rainfall, can be beneficial in two ways –

– it helps increase the yields of fruits as well as oil, and

– it helps stabilize the yields

Thank you