Summer deficit irrigation strategies in hedgerow olive orchard cv. ‘Arbequina’: Effect on fruit characteristics and yield.

Maximum production in hedgerow olive orchards is likely not achieved with maximum evapotranspiration over the long-term. Thus, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) should be considered as a management option. Four irrigation treatments were evaluated during the summer when olive is most drought resistant. Control (CON) was irrigated to maintain the rootzone close to field capacity. Severe water deficit was applied by irrigating 30% CON from end of fruit drop to end July (DI-J) and from end July until beginning of oil synthesis (DI-A). Less severe water deficit was applied during July and August (DI-JA) by irrigating 50% CON. Flowering, fruiting, abscission, fruit development, fresh and dry weight of fruits, and oil production were evaluated. There were not significant differences in number of buds initiated, number of fruits per inflorescence and fruit drop. Oil production was significantly different between irrigation treatments in all experimental years. CON produced more oil and fruit with higher oil% than DI-A and DI-JA. Oil production of DI-J was not significantly reduced compared to CON and oil% was greater. DI-J was the most effective RDI strategy; with 16% less applied water relative to CON average loss in oil production of 8% was not significantly different to CON. While DI-JA saved most water (27%), oil production was reduced by 15%. Greatest loss in oil production (21%) was observed in DI-A with water saving of 22%.

Climate variability effects on summer cropping systems on the Iberian Peninsula

Climate variability and changes in the frequency of extremes events have a direct impact on crop yield and damages. Climate anomalies projections at monthly and yearly timescale allows us for adapting a cropping system (crops, varieties and management) to take advantage of favorable conditions or reduce the effect of adverse conditions. The objective of this work is to develop indices to evaluate the effect of climatic variability in summer cropping systems of Iberian Peninsula, in an attempt of relating yield variability to climate variability, extending the work of Rodríguez-Puebla (2004).

Summer deficit irrigation in a hedgerow olive orchard cv. Arbequina: relationship between soil and tree water status, and growth and yield components

El potencial hídrico del tronco es una herramiento útil para el manejo del riego. Los umbrales de riego deben establecerse para cada periodo fisiológico. En este experimento, realizado en Arbequina en seto, se estudio la relacion entre los potenciales hídricos y la produccion de aceite. Cuando los potenciales hidricos son inferiores a -1.3 MPa el crecimiento vegetativo se reduce mas del 50%. En cuanto a la produccion, se observó que regando en Julio cuando se alcanzan potenciales cercanos a -2.9 MPa se puede ahorrar agua sin afectar a la produccion. Sin embargo en Agosto el potencial debe mantenerse por encima de -2 MPa para que no se resienta la producción.

Summer deficit-irrigation strategies in a hedgerow olive cv. Arbequina orchard: Effect on oil quality

En este ensayo se evaluó el efecto del déficit hídrico en el verano en la calidad del aceite de la variedad Arbequina. Para ello se establecieron 3 tratamientos de riego deficitario y un Control en un olivar en seto. El deficit severo aplicado en Julio provocó un incremento en polifenoles comparado con los otros tratamientos.

Summer deficit-irrigation strategies in a hedgerow olive cv. Arbequina orchard: Effect on oil quality

En un olivar en seto de la variedad Arbequina, situado en la Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo), se aplicaron diferentes estrategias de riego deficitario durante el verano. Se evaluó el efecto del riego sobre la calidad del aceite. Los aceite procedentes del tratamiento de deficit severo de julio presentarion una mayor estabilidad oxidativa, lo que coincide con un mayor contenido en polifenoles

Summer rainfall variability in European Mediterranean mountains from the sixteenth to the twentieth century reconstructed from tree rings.

En este trabajo se utilizan dendrocronologías para reconstruir la precipitación estival.

Testing the performance of a green wall system on an experimental building in the summer

It is known that a green wall brings some advantages to a building. It constitutes a barrier against solar radiation, thus decreasing and delaying the incoming heat flux. The aim of this study is to quantify such advantages through analytical comparison between two facades, a vegetal facade and a conventional facade. Both were highly insulated (U-value = 0.3 W/m2K) and installed facing south on the same building in the central territory of Spain. In order to compare their thermal trend, a series of sensors were used to register superficial and indoor air temperature. The work was carried out between 17th August 2012 and 1st October 2012, with a temperature range of 12°C-36°C and a maximum horizontal radiation of 1020 W/m2. Results show that the indoor temperature of the green wall module was lower than the other. Besides, comparing superficial outdoor and indoor temperatures of the two walls to outdoor air temperatures, it was noticed that, due to the shading plants, the green wall superficial temperature was 5 °C lower on the facade, while the bare wall temperature was 15 °C higher. The living wall module temperature was 1.6 °C lower than the outdoor, while the values of the conventional one were similar to the outdoor air temperature.

Characterization of a glycosylase family gene specifically expressed during winter dormancy in woody plants

Winter dormancy is the strategy used by perennial plants to survive the harsh conditions of winter in temperate and cold regions. This complex mechanism is characterized by cessation of the meristems activity, which is accompanied by the budset, the acquisition of a high tolerance to the cold temperatures and, in the case of deciduous trees, by the senescence and leaf abscission. In long-lived forest species, the length of the dormancy period limits the growing season, affecting wood production and quality. A Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) enriched in genes overexpressed during the process of winter dormancy in chesnut stems identified a DNA glycosylase gene. In order to study its role in the establishment and maintenance of the winter dormancy, a molecular characterization and seasonal expression were performed. Furthermore, we have obtained poplar transgenic plantlets overexpressing the chesnut gene.

Summer rainfall variability in European Mediterranean mountains from the sixteenth to the twentieth century reconstructed from tree rings.

Estudio dendrocronológico de estructuras arbóreas en alta montaña mediterránea.

The impact of large-scale circulation patterns on summer crop in Iberian Peninsula

Large-scale circulations patterns (ENSO, NAO) have been shown to have a significant impact on seasonal weather, and therefore on crop yield over many parts of the world(Garnett and Khandekar, 1992; Aasa et al., 2004; Rozas and Garcia-Gonzalez, 2012). In this study, we analyze the influence of large-scale circulation patterns and regional climate on the principal components of maize yield variability in Iberian Peninsula (IP) using reanalysis datasets. Additionally, we investigate the modulation of these relationships by multidecadal patterns. This study is performed analyzing long time series of maize yield, only climate dependent, computed with the crop model CERES-maize (Jones and Kiniry, 1986) included in Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v.4.5).

Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change for summer crops on Andalusia: evaluation for extreme maximum temperatures

Evaluate a set of agricultural adaptation strategies to cope with climate change impacts, with focus on the consequences of extreme events on the adaptations proposed in the semi-arid environment of Andalusia (Southern Spain).

Experimental study of the thermal-energy performance of an insulated vegetal facade under summer conditions in a continental mediterranean climate

The use of vegetal systems in facades affects the reduction of the buildings' energy demand, the attenuation of the urban heat island (UHI) and the filtration of pollutants present in the air. Even so, up to now the knowledge about the effect of this type of systems on the thermal performance of insulated facades is limited. This article presents the results of an experimental study carried out in a vegetal facade located in a continental Mediterranean climate zone. The objective is to study the effect of a vegetal finishing, formed by plants and substrate, on the thermal-energy performance of an insulated facade under summer conditions. To this effect, the thermal data obtained from two full-scale experimental mock-ups of the same dimensions and composition of the enclosure and only different in the south facade's enclosure where one incorporates a vegetation layer are compared and analysed. The results show that, in spite of the high thermal resistance of the enclosure, the effect of the vegetation is very positive, particularly in the warmer hours of the day. Therefore, vegetal facades can be used as a passive cooling strategy, reducing the consumption of energy for refrigeration and improving the comfort conditions of the users. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.