Effect of reducing chemical fertilizer and using organomineral fertilization on nutritional behavior and vegetative growth of olive trees

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the nutritional behavior and vegetative growth of two olive tree varieties with the reduction of chemical fertilization and the application of organomineral fertilizer. Three-year-old trees of varieties 'Barnea' and 'Grappolo 541' were used and cultivated on Quartzarenic Neosol in the field. The split-plot scheme was used, with a 4 x 2 factorial design, with the factors of four fertilizations and two varieties and the subplot of evaluation years. The four fertilizations consisted of 100%, 75%, 50% and 0% of the chemical fertilizer recommended for olive trees. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design, with three blocks and three plants per plot. The organomineral fertilizer was used on all of the plants. Leaf samples and vegetative growth were evaluated in July 2012 and June 2013. The nutritional behavior of olive tree varieties 'Barnea' and 'Grappolo 541' was unchanged with a 50% reduction of chemical fertilizer and the application of organomineral fertilizer. The variety 'Barnea', with habit of rapid growth, had lower foliar nutrient concentrations. A 64.5% reduction of the chemical fertilizer with the application of the organomineral fertilizer had no effect on the vegetative growth of the olive tree variety 'Grappolo 541'.