Abstract

SASTRE, Blanca et al. SOC stock in woody crops in Madrid Region depends on the soil conservation management. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.571-580.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28545.

Cover crops or groundcovers in woody crops are a highly recommended conservation practice to protect soil against erosion and to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stock. A study in southeastern Madrid Region was performed comparing plots under a soil conservation management (mechanically mowed, chemically mowed and no soil management) regarding tilling (total of 34 plots). This work was carried out from 2018 to 2021. Only plots under mechanically mowing significatively increased SOC stock comparing with nearby tilling plots (+4.9 Mg·ha-1). Plots managed chemically mowing or with no management due to weed scarcity did not increase SOC stock regarding their homologues tilled plots. Under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the study area, mechanically mowed plots reached 33.5 Mg SOC·ha-1 on average at 0-30 cm depth. This value is quite below regarding similar studies in other areas, showing the highly restricted edaphoclimatic conditions of the study zone.

Keywords : cover crops; SOC stock; mechanically mowing; chemically mowing; herbicide.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )