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The effects of a seaweed extract in addition to nitrogen and boron fertilization on productivity, fruit maturation, leaf nutritional status and oil quality of the olive ( Olea europaea L.) cultivar Koroneiki
Author(s) -
Chouliaras Vassilios,
Tasioula Maria,
Chatzissavvidis Christos,
Therios Ioannis,
Tsabolatidou Eleftheria
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3543
Subject(s) - olea , olive trees , borax , horticulture , chemistry , cultivar , oleic acid , human fertilization , fertilizer , botany , biology , agronomy , raw material , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND: There is not adequate literature on effects of seaweed extracts (SWE) on yield and nutritional status of olive trees as well as olive oil quality. In this work, a study of the effects of a seaweed extract applied foliarly (0.5% v/v) in addition to soil application of N (500 g NH 4 NO 3 per tree) and B (150 g borax per tree) on productivity, fruit parameters, nutritional status and olive oil quality of a Greek olive cultivar was performed. RESULTS: In contrast to the trees treated with N (NH 4 NO 3 ) or N + B (NH 4 NO 3 + borax), the additional application of seaweed extract (treatments N + SWE and N + B orax + SWE) increased the productivity and oil content and accelerated maturation of the olive fruits. In particular, the best results concerning productivity, oil content and earliness of maturity (colour and firmness) were observed in the trees treated with N + B + SWE. The additional application of SWE also increased K, Fe and Cu concentrations and reduced the concentrations of Mn in olive leaves compared to the corresponding treatments without SWE. Total phenol concentration in oil was minimized in all fertilization treatments but, particularly, the additional application of SWE did not affect it. The application of N + B + SWE led to a significant increase in linolenic as well as oleic acid concentrations, and to a decline in palmitoleic, stearic and linoleic acid concentrations in olive oil. CONCLUSION: The fertilizer treatments of this experiment and especially the combination of NH 4 NO 3 + borax + SWE should be recommended for the studied olive orchards, in order to increase tree productivity and improve their nutrition status and various olive oil quality parameters. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry