Carbon Sequestration Through Groundcovers and Pruning Residues in Sustainable Olive Orchards Under Different Edaphoclimatic Conditions

Miguel A. Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres (), Óscar Veroz-González, Francisco Sánchez-Ruiz, Manuel Moreno-García, Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández, Emilio J. González-Sánchez and Rosa M. Carbonell-Bojollo
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Miguel A. Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres: European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Óscar Veroz-González: Spanish Association for Conservation Agriculture-Living Soils (AEAC.SV), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Francisco Sánchez-Ruiz: Spanish Association for Conservation Agriculture-Living Soils (AEAC.SV), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Manuel Moreno-García: Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture and Fishing (IFAPA), Natural Resources and Forestry Area, Alameda del Obispo Centre, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández: Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture and Fishing (IFAPA), Natural Resources and Forestry Area, Alameda del Obispo Centre, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Emilio J. González-Sánchez: European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Rosa M. Carbonell-Bojollo: Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture and Fishing (IFAPA), Natural Resources and Forestry Area, Alameda del Obispo Centre, 14004 Cordoba, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key parameter of soil quality, and its improvement reduces the risk of desertification and provides several ecosystem services. Groundcovers are efficient for reducing soil degradation through erosion control and the improvement of organic matter. This article shows the effect of groundcovers with the addition of pruning residues on the SOC in olive orchards compared to soil management based on tillage. Four olive fields located in several edaphoclimatic zones of the Andalusia Region (southern Spain) were monitored, and the SOC stock was assessed during four seasons. The spontaneous groundcovers with the addition of shredded pruning residues had significant effects on SOC in all fields. The tillage treatment also increased the SOC content due to the carbon input through spontaneous vegetation and pruning residues, but to a lesser extent than the non-disturbed soil with groundcovers. The climate and soil characteristics of each zone, especially the clay content, determined the magnitude of the SOC increase. Carbon sequestration rates ranged from 0.02 to 3.02 MgC ha −1 yr −1 up to 30 cm in depth, and the SOC stock measured at the end of the four-season study period was significantly higher in the groundcover treatment, making this system sustainable in olive orchards and recommendable for the entailed ecosystem services.

Keywords: groundcovers; soil organic carbon; carbon sequestration; olive orchards; edaphoclimatic zone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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