Comparing the vegetative and the productive behavior in intensive and super high density olive groves

This study was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Ismailia, Egypt, during two studied seasons 2022 and 2023. Three olive cultivars (Coratina, Koroneiki and Maraki) were used to compare their growth behavior and productivity under different planting densities (intensive system and super high density system). The results showed that the vegetative growth behavior of the used olive cultivars was not affected by the difference in plant density, with the exception of the total leaf area/m, which increased under intensive system. Also, an increase in sex ratio was observed in intensive system, while no significant differences appeared between the tested planting densities in the number of flowers/inflorescences. The super high-density system showed superiority in terms of flower density compared to intensive system only in the first year. The use of super high density achieved the higher significant values for olive fruit yield, oil productivity and flesh/fruit ratio, while, the intensive system resulted in obtaining the highest significant values for fruit weight; the use of either system did not result in any significant differences in moisture content and fruit shape. As for the best yield performance of the cultivated olive cv. under different planting system, Koroneiki olive cv., recorded the highest values for fruit yield (7.27-8.93 ton/fed) and the highest oil productivity (1.14-1.42 ton/fed) under super high density, which will lead to an increase in the total income/fed.