Yield and oil quality of ‘Picual’ and ‘Koroneiki’ olive cultivars under high density planting system in Northern Cyprus

This study aimed to determine olive and oil yield and quality of ‘Picual’ and ‘Koroneiki’ cultivars grown in high density planting systems in Northern Cyprus. The research was conducted in the city of Güzelyurt located in the western part of Northern Cyprus during 5 consecutive crop years from 2013 (2nd growing year) to 2017 (6th growing year). Planting distance of the two cultivars was adjusted as 4 x 2 m, equalling to 1250 trees ha-1. Results showed that ‘Koroneiki’ is more promising than ‘Picual’ and it starts fruit bearing 2 years after planting. The ‘Picual’ cultivar was found to be late in fruit bearing, but its yield was noted to be significantly higher than the ‘Koroneiki’, where the cumulative yield of ‘Picual’ reached ‘Koroneiki’ in two years. Oil yield (% of fruit weight) of ‘Koroneiki’ was found to be varied from 21.02 % to 22.67 % and of ‘Picual’ from 18.47 % to 20.13 %. ‘Picual’ cultivar with less oil yield (% of fruit weight) than ‘Koroneiki’ noted to have higher oil per tree (kg)