Trifolium subterraneum cover cropping for improving the nutritional status of a Mediterranean apricot orchard
| Autor: | Stefania Fontanazza, Umberto Anastasi, Paolo Guarnaccia, Sara Lombardo, Cristina Abbate, Aurelio Scavo, Giovanni Mauromicale, Alessia Restuccia, Gaetano Pandino, Stefano La Malfa |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Agroecosystem
Trifolium subterraneum leaf nutrients balance 030309 nutrition & dietetics Nitrogen Prunus armeniaca Nutritional Status 03 medical and health sciences Soil 0404 agricultural biotechnology Nutrient Cover crop Fertilizers 0303 health sciences Nutrition and Dietetics biology fungi apricot orchard Trifolium subterraneum L food and beverages 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences fruit minerals content biology.organism_classification Weed control 040401 food science Crop Production Agronomy Fruit Organic farming Trifolium Orchard Weed Agronomy and Crop Science cover cropping Food Science Biotechnology |
| Zdroj: | Journal of the science of food and agricultureREFERENCES. 101(9) |
| ISSN: | 1097-0010 |
| Popis: | Background The utilization of Trifolium subterraneum L. cover crops may represent an innovative and efficient option in low-input and organic farming, especially in Mediterranean agroecosystems where low and irregular rainfall require frequent soil tillage and use of herbicides to reduce moisture losses and weed competitiveness. Since imbalances of soil macro- and micro-nutrients due to cover cropping establishment could be responsible for numerous problems in specialized orchards, such as disturbances in the normal tree growth and quality of fruits, the objective of this study was to investigate, the cumulative effects of a 3-years established T. subterraneum cover cropping, compared with a spontaneous flora and a conventional management (as a control), on the levels of mineral nutrients in the apricot leaves and fruits. Results Our findings indicated that T. subterraneum cover cropping tended to stimulate higher leaf macro- and micro-nutrients content than conventional management and flora spontaneous cover cropping. In addition, the presence of T. subterraneum cover cropping, especially with the incorporation of dead mulches into the soil, increased the content of potassium (K), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in apricot fruits. Conclusion Taking also into account the effects of T. subterraneum cover cropping on both the reduction of soil weed and enhancement of bacteria communities involved in the soil N-cycle, we may suggest its application in Mediterranean orchards as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control and mineral N fertilizers, while enhancing the apricot tree nutritional status and fruit quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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