Plant-based water stress sensing in two olive cultivars with different physiological responses to drought

A large portion of modern olive plantings is dominated by one main cultivar (‘Arbequina’) planted at super high density (SHD, 1,500 tree ha‑1), leading to a dangerous reduction in olive biodiversity. Very few cultivars have growth and productive patterns that suit the SHD system requirements. Partial intensification and mechanization with several cultivars may represent the safest and easiest alternative. The efficient use of limited natural resources, such as water, in SHD systems, requires precise management. Continuous plant-based sensing is a promising approach to managing water, mainly tested on the cultivar ‘Arbequina’. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity of two promising indi…