Effects of Nitrogen Foliar Fertilization on the Vegetative and Productive Performance of the Olive Tree and on Oil Quality
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74-06121 Perugia, Italy
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These authors contributed equally to the work.
Agriculture 2019, 9(12), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9120252
Received: 29 October 2019
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Revised: 21 November 2019
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Accepted: 25 November 2019
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Published: 29 November 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science and Techniques for the Development of a Sustainable Oliveculture)
The correct management (dose, time of distribution) of N fertilization in olive growing is still not completely clarified but is nowadays essential in order to guarantee sustainable production. In this regard, in central Italy over a 4-year-period a study was carried out to investigate the effect of high nitrogen availability during oil accumulation in the fruit (second phase of fruit growth) on vegetative and productive activities of olive trees and oil quality. In May of each year, secondary branches were selected and girdled in their proximal part. Afterwards, half of the girdled branches were sprayed three times with a solution containing urea (2% w/w), whereas the other half was sprayed only with water. The nitrogen treatments did not cause any damage to the foliage and fruits nor did it cause appreciable changes in leaf photosynthesis and specific weight, fruit-drop, ripening pattern and weight, water and oil contents, pulp/pit ratio of the fruits, fatty acid composition, polyphenols content, and sensorial characteristics of the oil. The N provided via foliar fertilization during the oil accumulation phase in trees in conditions of good supply of N does not induce significant effects on the vegetative-productive activity of the tree.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Regni, L.; Proietti, P. Effects of Nitrogen Foliar Fertilization on the Vegetative and Productive Performance of the Olive Tree and on Oil Quality. Agriculture 2019, 9, 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9120252
AMA Style
Regni L, Proietti P. Effects of Nitrogen Foliar Fertilization on the Vegetative and Productive Performance of the Olive Tree and on Oil Quality. Agriculture. 2019; 9(12):252. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9120252
Chicago/Turabian StyleRegni, Luca, and Primo Proietti. 2019. "Effects of Nitrogen Foliar Fertilization on the Vegetative and Productive Performance of the Olive Tree and on Oil Quality" Agriculture 9, no. 12: 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9120252
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