Cubiertas Vegetales en Producción Orgánica de Frambuesa: Efectos sobre el Contenido de Nutrientes del Suelo y en el Crecimiento y Producción de las Plantas

Abstract

A study of the evaluation and selection of cover crops to improve soil management in an organic orchard of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) was carried out. The evaluated cover crops were: a mixture of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and balansa clover (T. michelianum Savi), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), white clover (T. repens L.), fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), a mixture of white clover and fescue, and a control without vegetation. The trial was conducted in Chillán, Chile (36°37' S, 72°00' W), during two seasons. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replicates. Planting distance between raspberry rows was 3 m, and each experimental plot was 60 m 2. Covers that included white clover as a single species and white clover in mixture with tall fescue had the highest plant density (828 and 1788 plant m-2 , in the second year, respectively), biomass (9.3 and 10.4 t DM ha-1 yr-1 , in the second year, respectively) and specific contribution of the sown species (more than 90% contribution of sown species). Mixture of annual species did not have a good performance, particularly during the second season. A clear effect of the covers on soil content of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) was found; however, soil organic matter content and pH were not affected. Weed growth was best controlled by the cover crops that included fescue and/or white clover.

Estimating the contribution of nitrogen from legume cover crops to the nitrogen nutrition of grapevines using a 15N dilution technique

“…For example, a long-term (10 year) experiment undertaken in South Africa with Chardonnay/99 Richter vines growing in association with single leguminous species (either Vicia faba, Medicago spp., or T. subterraneum), found greater grape production, and higher N concentrations in leaf petioles and in grape juice than those in vines grown without cover crop (Fourie et al 2006). The results are also not dissimilar to that reported for organic raspberry after 3 years growing in association with a white clover cover crop, where fruit yield tended to be higher, although not statistically, from the control without cover crop (Ovalle et al 2007a). However, there can be delays in the vine's response to the increased inputs of N so the long-term production benefits of cover-cropping could larger than reported here.…”

Cubiertas Vegetales en Viñedos: Comportamiento de mezclas de Leguminosas Forrajeras Anuales y Efectos sobre la Fertilidad del Suelo

“…Este comportamiento se explica por la activa mineralización favorecida por las adecuadas condiciones ambientales del suelo. Una situación similar fue observada en cubiertas vegetales en huertos orgánicos de frambuesa (Rubus idaeus L.) en Chile, en estudios realizados en suelos trumaos de riego del valle central (Ovalle et al, 2007a;2007b). El contenido de P del suelo fue significativamente más alto en los tratamientos con cubierta que recibieron fertilización de establecimiento y mantención (equivalente a 150 y 50 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 , respectivamente).…”