Management of pruning residues for soil protection in olive orchards

Abstract

Erosion is one of the main environmental problems affecting soil in olive orchards.The present research aims to study the protection effect against soil erosion of three different managements of pruning residues in olive orchard. The investigation was carried out in an olive orchard with a total production of 0.39 kg m −2 of dry weight of pruning residues every 2 years. These pruning were chopped and scattered in 2 m-wide strips through three different managements. Management A, with densities of 1.56 kg m −2 distributed in all the inter-rows of olive orchard. Management B, with densities of 3.12 kg m −2 distributed on half of the inter-rows of olive orchard. And management C, with densities of 3.12 kg m −2 distributed on half of the inter-rows of olive orchard, alternating this application every 2 years with another half of the inter-rows. The influence of the residues on soil protection has been measured through the evolution of three parameters of the residues over 4 years: residues mass degradation, soil cover percentage, and spatial distribution. The results of the study have shown that the management C is the one that best protects the soil from erosion in olive orchard. This management maintains a protecting cover over inter-rows of olive orchard above 40%, maintaining homogeneity of the cover twice as much as the management in which pruning residues are left in all inter-rows.

Assessment of the Spatial Variability and Uncertainty of Shreddable Pruning Biomass in an Olive Grove Based on Canopy Volume and Tree Projected Area

“…The average shreddable pruning weight obtained per tree, considering the plantation distance, resulted in a density of residues equal to 2876 kg ha −1 . These results are slightly lower than those reported by Velázquez-Martí et al with 3.02 t ha −1 [58], and by Moreno et al [30] with 3.90 t ha −1 , both in biennial pruning.…”

“…The source of this cover is the pruning of the crop, generally performed annually or biannually. Significant amounts of ligneous biomass can be obtained from the pruning operations, ranging between 1.3 and 3.0 t ha −1 yr −1 [30]. This biomass is typically piled and burned on the farm, either to reduce the hazard of accidental fires or to prevent the transmission of diseases and pests.…”

Direct and indirect effects of long‐term ditch‐buried straw return on soil bacterial community in a rice–wheat rotation system

“…The return of straw residues to agricultural fields in the rice–wheat rotation system is recommended based on its positive effects on soil fertility (Yang et al ). For example, long‐term straw incorporation can promote soil organic matter accumulation and carbon storage (Lal, ; Moreno‐García et al ). Nutrients in the straw residue are released through decomposition, thus increasing nutrient availability for crop plants (Cucu et al, ; Zhang et al, ).…”

Sustainability of High-Density Olive Orchards: Hints for Irrigation Management and Agroecological Approaches

“…The presence of chopped wood pieces and weed residues on the orchard floor has four main benefits. First, it decreases the rainwater runoff speed and helps to prevent erosion [137]. Second, it promotes the rainwater infiltration rate, which is quite important in the case of heavy rain events [136].…”