Carob–Thyme Intercropping Systems Can Improve Yield Efficiency and Environmental Footprint Compared to Conservation Tillage
2025
Sofia Matsi | Dimitrios Sarris | Vassilis Litskas
Living mulch intercropping systems are considered as nature-based solutions with a low environmental footprint for managing weeds, improving biodiversity and agroecosystem sustainability. In drylands, however, they may increase intra/inter-specific competition for water, reducing crop productivity. We tested conservation tillage (TLG) carob plots with and without irrigation (TLG<sub>irr</sub>; TLG<sub>dry</sub>) vs. rainfed intercropping systems of carob and (i) thyme (<i>Thymbra capitata</i>; T-System) or (ii) clover (<i>Trifolium squarrosum</i>; C-System), strategically planted on the south (sun)-exposed soil side (SES) of carobs, to reduce soil temperature/evaporation. Carob water relations, productivity and environmental footprints were examined for three years under semi-arid, low weed-competition (Skarinou-SKR) and arid high weed-competition (Vrysoules-VRY) conditions in Cyprus. Carob yield efficiency (kg/m<sup>3</sup>) in SKR, was >27% higher for the T-System (<i>p</i> < 0.05; SES cover ca. 85%; year-3), matching a higher leaf water content (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to TLG<sub>dry</sub>. The T-System reached 28% and 56% of TLG<sub>irr</sub> yields during very dry and normal rainfall years; TLG<sub>dry</sub> yields approached zero. For VRY, no negative impacts on carob leaf water, at 25% SES cover, were found. SKR’s C-System improved leaf water content (<i>p</i> < 0.05) for only one year. The T-System also outperformed TLG<sub>irr</sub> and TLG<sub>dry</sub> in terms of reducing irrigation needs and energy consumption, breaking new grounds for dryland agroforestry.
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