ISHS Acta Horticulturae 448: III International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Deciduous Fruit Trees
EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING WITH CEREALS ON SOIL FERTILITY OF SOILS UNDER CHESTNUT CULTURE IN NORTHWEST SPAIN |
| Author: | J.M. García Queijeiro |
| Keywords: | Castanea sativa Mill., agroforestry, sustainability, intercropping, soil fertility, Galicia, fruit production |
| Abstract:
Chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) cultivation has a long tradition in several zones in Southeastern Galicia (Spain). After a regression period, chestnut production again became one of the most interesting agronomic alternatives for the hill-land and mid hill-land zones. The orchards called “soutos”, are anthropic formations for long term fruit production. In many cases, these orchards produce substantial chestnut yields, despite prevailing acidic soils. Usually autochthonous varieties are used which are normally cultivated with no fertilization. Despite the absence of any fertilization, the chestnut orchards produce considerable and continuous outputs of both fruit and wood, as well as at a low management input. Due to this fact, chestnut trees are an especially interesting species, from the point of view of sustainability in an agrosystem. For centuries, the adaptability of chestnut trees to the specific conditions of the region where infertile and in particular acidic soils prevail has been known. Traditionally, chestnut trees usually grow in association with winter cereals such as oat or rye. In more recent times, this type of intercropping is not continued. However, there are indications that such intercropping with cereals has advantages from the viewpoint of productivity and long term sustainability. This study shows that orchards soils under intercropping of chestnut with cereals have a better fertility in the upper horizon, compared to those without intercropping. Thus, the intercropping systems which combine chestnut trees and cereals, have some advantages also from the point of view of long term sustainability. | |
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