Field evaluation of selected autochthonous herbaceous species for cover crops in Mediterranean woody crops

Soriano, María-Auxiliadora; Cabezas, José Manuel; Gómez, José Alfonso

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2022.126723

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…This statement is supported by the authors of [37,38], who found a higher biomass production in grass species (barley, durum wheat, and soft wheat) compared to legumes (faba bean and lentil). In Spain, the annual net primary production of spontaneous vegetation reached 2000 kgha −1 , which is lower than that reported in our study [39]. The high levels of biomass production in our study could be related to the rainfall that occurred in 2021 and 2022, cover crop types, and the species characterizing the natural vegetation.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

“…The soil available phosphorus (P) level accumulated by the spontaneous vegetation was about 1.6 kg P ha −1 y −1 . Many other studies have reported a higher value, close to 2.5 kg P ha −1 , for the biomass of spontaneous vegetation grown in olive orchards under Mediterranean conditions [39]. However, another recent study in olive groves found levels in natural vegetation as high as 6 kg P ha −1 y −1 [43].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Moreover, the authors of [7] reported that the use of legumes as cover crops increased the soil N by about 25% as compared to a control plot. Vetch improved the soil nitrate content by over 35% for barley at a 0-20 cm soil depth throughout the studied period [39]. The N content in the surface soil layer can be influenced by the sampling date, the decomposition process, and the dry biomass incorporated into the soil [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The dry biomass and the SOM generated by the cover crop plays an important role in soil characteristics and nutrient dynamics [39,43]. The availabilities of soil macronutrients in the top soil layer were the result of organic matter decomposition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Elhaddad,

González,

Abdelhamid

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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In Tunisia, the olive is the most cultivated fruit crop in the northern region, where annual rainfall exceeds 400 mm. This olive-growing area is characterized by a wide coverage of marginal soil with a high slope gradient. Therefore, the inclusion of cover crops in olive orchards is a sustainable solution to enhance ecosystem productivity, improve soil fertility, and increase oil yields. This study aimed to investigate the short-term (two cropping seasons in 2021 and 2022) effects of different seeded cover crops and soil management practices on soil characteristics, as well as soil health by measuring soil enzyme activities and microbial diversity. Six cover crop types consisting of wheat, vetch, oat, fenugreek, a vetch–oat mixture, and spontaneous vegetation were tested in association with rainfed olive trees (cv. Chetoui) in the north of Tunisia and compared to a control (which was tilled periodically three times per year without intercropping). During the first cropping season, cover crops were cut as animal feed, and only residues were incorporated into the soil. However, during the second year, all cover crop biomass was incorporated into the soil. The results indicated that the dry biomass production and carbon uptake were significantly higher in grass species (wheat and oat). All of the cover crops, including the spontaneous vegetation, significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) and macronutrient levels, mainly, available phosphorus. On the other hand, the highest level of soil nitrogen was found in the fenugreek cover crop. The soil enzyme activities in the cover crops of wheat, oat, and the vetch–oat mix were higher than those in the control. Together with the increase in soil organic matter (SOM), this demonstrates a significant improvement in soil health with cover crops. Furthermore, this study proves that the utilization of carbon sources was dominated by amides, amines, and amino acids in the fenugreek plot, while it was dominated by polymers and carboxylic acids in the case of the wheat and oat. Overall, this study demonstrates that seeding cover crops is a sustainable management practice not only to integrate livestock but also to improve soil health in semiarid olive orchards.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Elhaddad,

González,

Abdelhamid

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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“…It has found that a mixture of early maturing and self-reseeding annual legumes resulted in higher ground cover percentages, biomass production, compared to natural vegetation [35]. Indeed, [36] reported that the highest level of areal biomass (7000 kg.ha -1 ) was recorded in mixtures of Bromus, Medicago and Anthemis seeded cover crop on olive orchards. Additionally, soil fertility and organic matter content can influence cover crop biomass production which can explain high cover crop biomass unregistered in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternatives Cover Crops and Soil Managements Modified Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities and Soil Microbial Diversity in Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv.Chétoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Fadoua,

Chehab,

González

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In Tunisia, olive is the most cultivated fruit crop while in the north where rainfall exceeded 400mm.year-1, the olive growing area is in widely extension in marginal soil with high slope gradient. Thus, the inclusion of cover crops is a sustainable solution to increase the ecosystem productivity, improve the soil fertility and oil yields. But, in Tunisia a few study were investigated the effect of legumes cover crop on the olive productivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term (two cropping seasons s 2021 and 2022) effects of different seeded cover crops and soil management practices on the cover crops and soil characteristics, as well as enzymes activities and related microbial diversity. Six intercropping were tested in rainfed olive orchards (cv.Chétoui): Spontaneous vegetation (Spont), Wheat, Vetch, Oat, Fenugreek, mixture Vetch-Oat and compared to control (3 periodic tillage/year without intercropping). During the first cropping season, cover crops were cut as animal feed and only residues were incorporated into the soil. While, during the second year, all cover crops biomass were incorporated into the soil. Results indicate that the dry biomass and carbon uptake were significantly higher in grasses species (Wheat and Oat). But, highest level of nitrogen was found in Fenugreek cover crops. As compared to control, all cover crops including spontaneous vegetation increased soil organic matter and macronutrient level, mainly phosphorus. The most activity of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arysulphatase was found in the cover crops plot of wheat and oat. In addition, this study improve that the utilization of the carbon sources was dominated by amides, amine and amino-acids in the fenugreek plot; while it was dominated by polymers and carboxylic acids in the case of wheat and oat.

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Appraising trapping efficiency of vegetative barriers in agricultural landscapes: Strategy based on a probabilistic approach based on a review of available information

Muñoz,

Guzmán,

Soriano

et al. 2024

International Soil and Water Conservation Research

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Field evaluation of selected autochthonous herbaceous species for cover crops in Mediterranean woody crops

Cited by 4 publications

References 86 publications

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Alternatives Cover Crops and Soil Managements Modified Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities and Soil Microbial Diversity in Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv.Chétoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Appraising trapping efficiency of vegetative barriers in agricultural landscapes: Strategy based on a probabilistic approach based on a review of available information

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