Developing cover crop systems for California almonds: Current knowledge and uncertainties

Abstract

Developing cover crop systems for California almonds: Current knowledge and uncertainties A lmond (Prunus amygdalus) orchard systems are highly productive and widespread in Mediterranean climates and dominate the California agricultural landscape. However, current intensive monocultural bare soil production practices limit the potential to support nonproduction functions (i.e., multifunctionality) and long-term sustainability of the orchard system (Aizen et al. 2019;Fenster et al. 2021). Managing orchards for multifunctional benefits includes maintaining ecologically and economically viable yields while prioritizing water quality, soil health, reduced input use, and support for biodiversity. Recent studies in almond demonstrate that diversification, including planted or spontaneous (resident) vegetation in orchard alleys, can improve multifunctionality by enhancing nonproduction functions in the orchard without reducing crop yield, thereby providing opportunities to enhance sustainability and resilience (Fenster et al. 2021;Morugán-Coronado et al. 2020).Cover crops have been used in some Mediterranean orchards to accomplish a variety of goals for centuries (Proebsting 1958;Paine and Harrison 1993). In California, on-farm studies, such as the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) for Almond program (Bugg et al. 1994; Bentley et al. 2001), developed valuable baseline information for cover crop implementation in modern almond orchard systems. Subsequent research suggests multiple avenues by which planted winter cover crops or resident vegetation can increase Mediterranean agroecosystem multifunctionality, though there is limited evidence from almonds. Synthesizing the information that exists could increase a shared understanding of expected benefits and trade-offs of integrating cover crops into almond orchards and clarify persistent knowledge gaps. Establishing this updated understanding can guide continued work

Integrating perspectives on ecology, conservation value, and policy of bee pollinator seed mixes

“…Most US programs require annual renewal or do not extend past the start-up costs of purchasing the seeds or initial planting. This approach may be reasonable for short-term goals in certain ecological and agricultural contexts, and if permanent habitat is not a goal (Wauters et al 2021). In Europe, funding of AESs comprises an initial period of 5 years, which is open to extension; however, this extension hinges on the motivation of (and the social factors that may influence) individual farmers (Gatto et al 2019).…”