Trifolium subterraneum cover cropping for improving the nutritional status of a Mediterranean apricot orchard

Abstract

BACKGROUND The utilization of Trifolium subterraneum L. cover crops may represent an innovative and efficient option in low‐input and organic farming, especially in Mediterranean agroecosystems where low and irregular rainfall require frequent soil tillage and use of herbicides to reduce moisture losses and weed competitiveness. Since imbalances of soil macro‐ and micro‐nutrients due to cover cropping establishment could be responsible for numerous problems in specialized orchards, such as disturbances in the normal tree growth and quality of fruits, the objective of this study was to investigate, the cumulative effects of a 3‐years established T. subterraneum cover cropping, compared with a spontaneous flora and a conventional management (as a control), on the levels of mineral nutrients in the apricot leaves and fruits. RESULTS Our findings indicated that T. subterraneum cover cropping tended to stimulate higher leaf macro‐ and micro‐nutrients content than conventional management and flora spontaneous cover cropping. In addition, the presence of T. subterraneum cover cropping, especially with the incorporation of dead mulches into the soil, increased the content of potassium (K), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in apricot fruits. CONCLUSION Taking also into account the effects of T. subterraneum cover cropping on both the reduction of soil weed and enhancement of bacteria communities involved in the soil N‐cycle, we may suggest its application in Mediterranean orchards as an eco‐friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control and mineral N fertilizers, while enhancing the apricot tree nutritional status and fruit quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Trifolium subterraneum cover cropping enhances soil fertility and weed seedbank dynamics in a Mediterranean apricot orchard

“…The work of Kuo and Jellum (2002) also states that the incorporation of cover crop residues shows higher soil organic C and NO 3 − than removing them. In a recent study, Lombardo et al (2021) found that TCC-B improved the nutritional status of the apricot by significantly increasing the content of macro-and micronutrients in both leaves and fruits than spontaneous flora and CM, thus demonstrating how the beneficial effects on soil properties were reflected in the plants.…”

The role of cover crops in improving soil fertility and plant nutritional status in temperate climates. A review

“…The influence of CCs on the crop nutritional status is closely correlated to the management options, with species selection, termination stage, and termination method being the most relevant factors. In the study conducted by Lombardo et al (2021), for example, subterranean clover showed a better performance than spontaneous flora CC, but the best results were obtained by incorporating subterranean clover dead mulches into the soil, probably due to their more rapid decomposition which on one hand allowed a higher release of nutrients and, on the other, created a favorable environment for nutrients absorption. In another study, faba bean was found to be the most suitable CC for improving the nutrient composition of organic kale, whereas ryegrass CC determined a higher kale biomass production, thus highlighting the importance of species selection (Thavarajah et al 2019).…”

“…Hence, especially in fruit orchards, cover cropping may provide additional indirect benefits to the crops, such as the enhancement of root development, tree vigor, yield, and fruit quality (Tahir et al 2015). The incorporation of subterranean clover (T. subterraneum) dead mulches into the soil, compared to a spontaneous flora cover cropping, a conventional management and the optimal ranges reported in the literature, was found to increase the content of minerals (K, N, Ca, Fe, Mn) in apricot leaves and fruits and to balance the nutritional status of the trees (ΣDOP index) (Lombardo et al 2021). In organic kale (B. oleracea var.…”

Pseudomonas putida Isolation and Quantification by Real-Time PCR in Agricultural Soil Biodegradable Mulching

“…Treatments included (1) a BP and (2) a no-BP (nBP), (3) a subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cover cropping with soil-surface application of dead mulches (TCC-S) (4) and a subterranean clover cover cropping with soil-incorporation of dead mulches (TCC-B). TCC-S and TCC-B were chosen as they represent a valid agronomic tool in P. armeniaca orchards to improve weed control [17], soil mineral nitrogen [18] and the nutritional status of the trees [19]. These treatments were compared to (5) a conventional management (CM) following the typical agronomic practices for the zone: a winter shallow hoeing at 0.10 m in September, followed by two tine harrowing in February and May to control weeds.…”