Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain
Soil degradation is a significant threat to agricultural systems and contemporary societies worldwide, especially in the context of climate change. Proper management of agricultural systems is a priority for maintaining food security and achieving sustainable development. It is therefore important t...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Javier González-Pérez José Antonio Sillero-Medina Paloma Hueso-González José Damián Ruiz-Sinoga Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo Ana Lia Gayán-Quijano |
| author_facet | Javier González-Pérez José Antonio Sillero-Medina Paloma Hueso-González José Damián Ruiz-Sinoga Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo Ana Lia Gayán-Quijano |
| author_sort | Javier González-Pérez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil degradation is a significant threat to agricultural systems and contemporary societies worldwide, especially in the context of climate change. Proper management of agricultural systems is a priority for maintaining food security and achieving sustainable development. It is therefore important to assess the efficacy of different interventions that are designed to improve the quality of agricultural soils. Measurements of physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil quality can be used to examine the efficacy of strategies or methods that were designed to prevent soil degradation. We measured seven physicochemical indicators of soil quality at a representative experimental plot of nectarines in the province of Zaragoza (Spain) over three years (2020–2023) and compared the effect of a multifunctional cover crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup> MCC, Basel, Switzerland) with conventional treatment (control) on soil quality. Soil samples were collected every two months from the treelines and inter-rows (paths for farming vehicles). In general, the MCC zones in the treelines and inter-rows had better soil health, especially in key indicators such as basal soil respiration, organic matter, nitrogen, and porosity. Climatic variability, especially seasonal differences in rainfall, also affected multiple soil indicators. During many sample periods, the MCC zones of the treelines and inter-rows had significantly increased soil organic matter, basal respiration, total nitrogen, nitrate, total porosity, and available water content, but the MCC and control zones had no significant differences in bulk density. The differences between the MCC zones and control zones, especially in basal soil respiration, were greater during the wet seasons. Our results indicate that the LivinGro<sup>®</sup> MCC prevented degradation of agricultural soils in a region with a continental Mediterranean climate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ede8bcb754c4c9fbc22d56e7c5149ef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ede8bcb754c4c9fbc22d56e7c5149ef2025-01-24T13:37:36ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-011412710.3390/land14010027Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, SpainJavier González-Pérez0José Antonio Sillero-Medina1Paloma Hueso-González2José Damián Ruiz-Sinoga3Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo4Ana Lia Gayán-Quijano5Institute of Habitat, Territory and Digitalisation, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainInstitute of Habitat, Territory and Digitalisation, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainInstitute of Habitat, Territory and Digitalisation, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainInstitute of Habitat, Territory and Digitalisation, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, SpainSyngenta Crop Protection, 4058 Basel, SwitzerlandSyngenta Crop Protection, 4058 Basel, SwitzerlandSoil degradation is a significant threat to agricultural systems and contemporary societies worldwide, especially in the context of climate change. Proper management of agricultural systems is a priority for maintaining food security and achieving sustainable development. It is therefore important to assess the efficacy of different interventions that are designed to improve the quality of agricultural soils. Measurements of physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil quality can be used to examine the efficacy of strategies or methods that were designed to prevent soil degradation. We measured seven physicochemical indicators of soil quality at a representative experimental plot of nectarines in the province of Zaragoza (Spain) over three years (2020–2023) and compared the effect of a multifunctional cover crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup> MCC, Basel, Switzerland) with conventional treatment (control) on soil quality. Soil samples were collected every two months from the treelines and inter-rows (paths for farming vehicles). In general, the MCC zones in the treelines and inter-rows had better soil health, especially in key indicators such as basal soil respiration, organic matter, nitrogen, and porosity. Climatic variability, especially seasonal differences in rainfall, also affected multiple soil indicators. During many sample periods, the MCC zones of the treelines and inter-rows had significantly increased soil organic matter, basal respiration, total nitrogen, nitrate, total porosity, and available water content, but the MCC and control zones had no significant differences in bulk density. The differences between the MCC zones and control zones, especially in basal soil respiration, were greater during the wet seasons. Our results indicate that the LivinGro<sup>®</sup> MCC prevented degradation of agricultural soils in a region with a continental Mediterranean climate.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/27sustainable agriculturecover cropsoil propertiesdegradationclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Javier González-Pérez José Antonio Sillero-Medina Paloma Hueso-González José Damián Ruiz-Sinoga Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo Ana Lia Gayán-Quijano Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain Land sustainable agriculture cover crop soil properties degradation climate change |
| title | Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain |
| title_full | Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain |
| title_short | Effects of a Multifunctional Cover Crop (LivinGro<sup>®</sup>) on Soil Quality Indicators in Zaragoza, Spain |
| title_sort | effects of a multifunctional cover crop livingro sup r sup on soil quality indicators in zaragoza spain |
| topic | sustainable agriculture cover crop soil properties degradation climate change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/27 |
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