In the Mediterranean region the intensities and amounts of soil loss and runoff on sloping land are governed by rainfall pattern and vegetation cover. Over a two-year period (1998)(1999), six wild species of aromatic and mellipherous plants (Thymus serpylloides subsp. Gadorensis, Thymus baeticus Boiss, Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl., Santolina rosmarinifolia L., Lavandula stoechas L. and Genista umbellata Poiret) were selected for erosion plots to determine their effectiveness in reducing water erosion on hillslopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain (SE Spain). The erosion plots (including a bare-soil plot as control), located at 1,345 m in altitude, were 2 m 2 (2 m × 1 m) in area and had 13% incline. The lowest runoff and soil erosion rates, ranging from 9 to 26 mm yr −1 and from 0.01 to 0.31 Mg ha −1 yr −1 , respectively, over the entire study period, were measured under the Thymus serpylloides. Lavandula stoechas L. registered the highest rates among the plant covers tested, runoff ranging from 77 to 127 mm yr −1 and erosion from 1.67 to 3.50 Mg ha −1 yr −1 . In the bare-soil plot, runoff ranged from 154 to 210 mm yr −1 and erosion from 4.45 to 7.82 Mg ha −1 yr −1 . According to the results, the lowest-growing plant covers (Thymus serpylloides and Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl.) discouraged the soil erosion and runoff more effectively than did the taller and open medium-sized shrubs (Santolina rosmarinifolia L., Genista umbellata Poiret , Thymus baeticus Boiss and Lavandula stoechas L.). Monitoring allowed more direct linkage to be made between plant covers and the prevention of erosion, with implications for sustainable mountain agriculture and environmental protection.

Soil health is a term used to describe the general state or quality of soil, and in an agroecosystem, soil health can be defined as the ability of the soil to respond to agricultural practices in a way that sustainably supports both agricultural production and the provision of other ecosystem services. Conventional agricultural practices cause deterioration in soil quality, increasing its compaction, water erosion, and salinization and decreasing soil organic matter, nutrient content, and soil biodiversity, which negatively influences the productivity and long-term sustainability of the soil. Currently, there are many evidences throughout the world that demonstrate the capability of conservation agriculture (CA) as a sustainable system to overcome these adverse effects on soil health, to avoid soil degradation and to ensure food security. CA has multiple beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In addition, CA can reduce the negative impacts of conventional agricultural practices on soil health while conserving the production and provision of soil ecosystem services. Today, agricultural development is facing unprecedented challenges, and CA plays a significant role in the sustainability of intensive agriculture. This review will discuss the impact of conservation agricultural practices on soil health and their role in agricultural sustainability.

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Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is broadly grown in tropical regions and can also be cultivated in irrigated subtropical semi-arid areas; however, water shortages are a serious problem in the latter region. Among biotic and abiotic factors, water supply is one of the most crucial elements that determine productivity. The allocation of water will be an ever-increasing source of pressure because of vast agricultural demands under changing climatic conditions. Although the mango is considered to be tolerant to drought, water stress during growing cycle can reduce productivity. Here, we review the recent progress in evaluating and augmenting mango water productivity. Developments in physiological and agronomic understanding that have led to a boost in water productivity are presented. In addition, this review deals with deficit irrigation strategies to elucidate the effects on mango yield, water use efficiency, and the response of physiological indicators to water stress. Our main findings were as follows: (1) Under a changing climate, traditional irrigation based on water balance will not be sustainable in the medium/long term; (2) deficit irrigation strategies applied to mango can save irrigation water by up to 40% and improve water use efficiency by up to 30%; and (3) there is valuable potential for further improvement owing to advanced knowledge in terms of the physiological response of mango to water stress, and there are good prospects within the current approaches if they are associated with specific environmental physiology. We concluded that under current medium-/long-term perspectives regarding available water resources, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, there is an urgent demand for adaptive and water-saving strategies. Thus, it will be vital to redesign irrigation schemes in areas where water is scarce to adjust deficit irrigation strategies not only to save water, enhance water use efficiency, and maintain yield, but also to produce fruits with improved quality.

Deficit irrigation (DI) strategies are considered essential in many arid and semi-arid areas of Mediterranean countries for proper water management under drought conditions. This fact is even more necessary in crops such as almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.), which in the last recent years has been progressively introduced in irrigated areas. An essential aspect to be considered would be the ability to improve fruit-quality parameters when DI strategies are imposed, which can boost the final almond price and ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of this crop. This work examines the effects of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) on three almond cultivars (Marta, Guara, and Lauranne) on parameters related to almond functionality, aroma and sensory profile, which consequently influence its marketability and consumers acceptance. SDI strategies allowed the improvement of physical parameters such as unit weight, kernel length, kernel thickness or color. Moreover, higher total phenolic compounds, organic acids and sugars were found in SDI almonds. Finally, the highest concentrations of volatile compounds were obtained under SDI, this being a clear advantage in relation to almond flavor. Thus, moderate SDI strategy offered relevant improvements in parameters regarding the marketability, by enhancing the final added value of hydroSOStainable almonds with respect to those cultivated under full irrigation conditions.