Water scarcity is challenging agricultural production, demanding more precise and efficient irrigation management. Plant-based continuous monitoring has emerged as a promising approach for detecting water stress progression and optimizing irrigation. However, its practical implementation is hindered by the complex interpretation of the sensors’ outputs and plant physiological status relationships. Plant water potential is among the most robust water status indicators and is widely used for irrigation management. Nevertheless, its measurement is time-consuming and requires skilled personnel, making it difficult to have frequent assessments. In this study, we explored the potential of using continuous water potential sensing to quantify olive water status and its response to irrigation. Specifically, we compared continuous and discrete tree-level measurements of water status using microtensiometers and the pressure chamber, respectively. The microtensiometers proved effective in capturing tree water status dynamics, enabling a prompt assessment of the impact of irrigation practices. Preliminary analyses show a good linear correlation between midday trunk and stem water potential values obtained with microtensiometers and the pressure chamber, with the former being less than 0.5 MPa lower, a difference that could be attributed to the specific measurement of each technique. Importantly, having continuous data allows the extrapolation of several water status parameters which can provide key information in addition to the single timepoint midday values. Overall, this study suggests microtensiometers can be a useful tool to optimize water application in olive orchards.
