Articles
Agroecological approaches in olive farming, for combating land desertification and mitigating climate change in Messinia, Greece
Article number
1446_46
Pages
363 – 370
Language
English
Abstract
Land desertification is increasing in the Mediterranean basin due to climate change and increasing pressures on agricultural land.
The olive sector contributes to desertification as intensive farming methods can result in damage such as soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Agroecological approaches in olive farming management, such as reduced tillage/no-tillage and use of cover crops can mitigate soil degradation and enhance carbon sequestration.
We installed an experiment to explore the environmental impact of cover cropping compared with the use of herbicides in a hilly olive grove at Messinia, south Peloponnese, a main olive production area of Greece.
Different soil treatments were set in 9 plots (3 plots/treatment) for a one-year period including the i) use of a cover crops mixture (Pisum sativum, Vicia faba, Hordium vulgare), ii) herbicide application, and iii) natural vegetation (control). A survey of soil physiochemical properties and surface run off-erosion was performed at plot level, along with monitoring of soil nutrient status, carbon sequestration, ground-dwelling arthropod diversity, yield and climatic conditions.
Consequently, the preliminary findings of the in situ experimentation are integrated in soil and water management models.
The outcome of the above assessment is expected to provide robust decision support for effective management and policy solutions, for increased resilience and regeneration of degraded land.
The olive sector contributes to desertification as intensive farming methods can result in damage such as soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Agroecological approaches in olive farming management, such as reduced tillage/no-tillage and use of cover crops can mitigate soil degradation and enhance carbon sequestration.
We installed an experiment to explore the environmental impact of cover cropping compared with the use of herbicides in a hilly olive grove at Messinia, south Peloponnese, a main olive production area of Greece.
Different soil treatments were set in 9 plots (3 plots/treatment) for a one-year period including the i) use of a cover crops mixture (Pisum sativum, Vicia faba, Hordium vulgare), ii) herbicide application, and iii) natural vegetation (control). A survey of soil physiochemical properties and surface run off-erosion was performed at plot level, along with monitoring of soil nutrient status, carbon sequestration, ground-dwelling arthropod diversity, yield and climatic conditions.
Consequently, the preliminary findings of the in situ experimentation are integrated in soil and water management models.
The outcome of the above assessment is expected to provide robust decision support for effective management and policy solutions, for increased resilience and regeneration of degraded land.
Publication
Authors
I. Michail, G. Maneas, C. Pantazis, I. Livieratos, S. Solomos, V.D. Gkisakis
Keywords
agroecology, olive production, erosion, cover crops, carbon sequestration
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