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Abstract The present study was carried out during two successive seasons (2012 and 2013) to study the effects of three levels of calcium carbonate in soil (9.4, 22 and 38.1% CaCO3) and two levels of irrigation ( 60% and 30% available water) on growth of one-year old uniformed seedlings of 6 olive cultivars namely “Agezee”, “Koroneiki”, “Picual”, “Nebal”, “Manzanillo” and “Coratina”. In general, a negative relationship was found between CaCO3% in soil and/or deficit irrigation on growth parameters of all olive cvs. seedlings under study. Seedling height and stem diameter increased significantly by decreasing calcium carbonate% in soil. Seedlings of “Coratina”. cv. grown at 38.1% calcium carbonate in soil and exposed to deficit irrigation had the lowest decreasing percent in seedling height comparing with the other cvs. under study. Results clearly indicated that with decreasing calcium carbonate % in soil total leaf area increased significantly. Seedling of “Nebal” had the lowest decreasing percent in total leaf area under the highest % of CaCo3 in soil (38.1%) and exposed to deficit irrigation. Dry weight of total seedling decreased significantly by increasing calcium carbonate% in soil and deficit irrigation. Seedlings of “Nebal” and “Agezee” cvs. under the highest % of calcium carbonate in soil (38.1%) and exposed to deficit irrigation showed the lowest decreasing percent of dry weight/seedling comparing with those of “Koroneiki” under the same conditions, which showed the highest decreasing rate in this respect. Total chlorophyll and total carbohydrate were decreased by increasing calcium carbonate % in soil and/or water stress. Leaf nitrogen content were 2.06% in seedlings grown at 9.4% CaCO3 followed in descending order by those growing at 22 and 38.1% CaCO3. On the contrary, Leaves of seedlings exposed to dry treatments had the highest N%. A negative relationship was found between leaf nutrients( P, K. Fe, Zn and Mn)content and CaCO3% in soil and/ or deficit irrigation. Sseedlings of “Nepal” cv. followed by “Agezee” cv. were the most tolerant to calcareous soil (22 and 38.1% CaCO3) and drought(30% A.W), Whereas “Koroneiki” cv. was the most susceptible in this respect ,“Picual”, “Manzanillo” and “Coratina” were intermediate tolerant. Key words: Olea europaea L.; olive, Calcareous soil, CaCo3 in soil, deficit irrigation |