Soil properties in olive groves under different soil management systems. Simulation of soil organic carbon stocks using the Rothc model | Propiedades de los suelos de olivar con diferentes manejos. Simulación del carbono orgánico fijado aplicando el modelo Rothc
2011
Nieto Cobo, O.M.
In this work we have studied the changes in soil properties of olive groves after changing the soil management system and assessing the ability of the soil for carbon sequestration. The study area is located in Andalusia, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, one of the main producers of olive oil worldwide. In this region the olive grove is a continuous monoculture included in the mesomediterranean thermotype and dry sub-humid ombrotype. Most of the areas under olive cultivation in Andalusia are occupied by unirrigated adult trees characterized by a low density (approximately 100 trees/ha). Conventional olive production is the most widely used and is based on limiting the size of the crown by pruning (to ensure productivity) and weed control by herbicide or continuous tillage. The continued use of these practices over a long period of time has caused serious environmental problems, especially related to soil erosion and desertification, over-exploitation of water resources, water pollution and the reduction of biodiversity. Conventional management also increases mineralization processes in the soil, accelerating the loss of nutrients and CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The use of cover crops and lack of tillage enhance soil properties. Among the improvements observed by other authors are increases in the organic carbon content of the soil due to a higher imput of plant debris, decreased mineralization and a greater control of erosion, among others. These improvements result in increased soil quality. [...]
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