Back to Search Start Over

Erosion Control Performance of Improved Soil Management in Olive Groves: A Field Experimental Study in NE Portugal

Authors :
Renecleide Santos
Felícia Fonseca
Paula Baptista
Antonio Paz-González
Tomás de Figueiredo
Source :
Land, Vol 12, Iss 9, p 1700 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Olive groves rank among the cropping systems facing higher erosion risk in Mediterranean Europe. The adoption of erosion control soil management practices is key for reducing such risk and driving olive production towards sustainability. This field experimental study aimed to quantify the erosion control performance of improved soil management as compared to conventional soil management in olive groves of NE Portugal. The design aimed to compare the effects of introducing no-tillage (NT) to a conventionally managed (T) olive grove and those with complementing ground cover by adventitious species (NS) with a sown cover (S) and comprised four treatments: TNS (reference for conventional), TS, NTNS and NTS. Erosion microplots (4 m2) were installed (two per treatment), recording soil loss, runoff and ground cover in seven erosion events throughout one year. The best erosion control performance was found in NTNS (low-cost improved soil management treatment) with 50% and 85% reductions in soil loss, respectively, in the annual total and in erosion events following large precipitation periods. Plots with adventitious vegetation ground cover performed better in soil loss control than the sown ones. Converting to no-tillage, as compared to sowing herbaceous vegetation to increase ground cover, proved more performant and less hazardous for improving erosion control in olive groves.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2073445X
Volume :
12
Issue :
9
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Land
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.658a70633c440ddbee0f0fb9375a2a1
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091700