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Groundcovers Improve Soil Properties in Woody Crops Under Semiarid Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Blanca Sastre

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

  • Omar Antón-Iruela

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
    GRUPOPTIMA, 28890 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ana Moreno-Delafuente

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

  • Mariela J. Navas

    (Chemical Farmaceutic Depatment, Farmacy Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Maria Jose Marques

    (Geology and Geochemistry Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Francisco Tomás y Valiente, 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • Javier González-Canales

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
    Doctorate School, University of Alcalá (UAH), Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Madrid, Spain)

  • Juan Pedro Martín-Sanz

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

  • Rubén Ramos

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

  • Andrés García-Díaz

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ramón Bienes

    (Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Carretera A-2, km 38.2, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

There is a worldwide need to enhance soil health, particularly in agricultural areas. Groundcovers are widely recognized sustainable land management (SLM) practices that improve soil health and provide climate benefits by sequestering atmospheric carbon. A paired-plots study was carried out in woody crops (17 sites, olive groves and vineyards) in a semiarid area of central Spain to measure soil parameter changes induced by different management practices in the medium term. The selection across different locations aimed to determine whether the impact of groundcovers was substantial enough to produce significant changes in the studied soil parameters, even when accounting for variations in soil types. Each site consisted of neighboring plots: One was managed with conventional tillage (CT). The other was managed with an alternative soil management practice: (1) spontaneous groundcovers (GC) or (2) no soil management (NM). Vegetation and soil parameters were measured in spring 2021. Despite the low aboveground biomass in GC (77 g m −2 ), this treatment improved soil organic carbon stock (+4.4 Mg ha −1 ), infiltration rate (+50%), and aggregate stability (+35%) compared to CT, but higher compaction along the profile was detected. NM only resulted in a better infiltration rate, with high soil compaction. Our study provides supplementary information to long-term studies, which may include soil biological parameters as soil health indicators and yield response. Outcomes of these soil assessments lend support to the implementation of agricultural policies that promote GC as a SLM practice, in order to extend this technique to woody crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Blanca Sastre & Omar Antón-Iruela & Ana Moreno-Delafuente & Mariela J. Navas & Maria Jose Marques & Javier González-Canales & Juan Pedro Martín-Sanz & Rubén Ramos & Andrés García-Díaz & Ramón Bienes, 2024. "Groundcovers Improve Soil Properties in Woody Crops Under Semiarid Climate," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:12:p:2288-:d:1543436
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pasquale Borrelli & David A. Robinson & Larissa R. Fleischer & Emanuele Lugato & Cristiano Ballabio & Christine Alewell & Katrin Meusburger & Sirio Modugno & Brigitta Schütt & Vito Ferro & Vincenzo Ba, 2017. "An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land use change on soil erosion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
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