Author(s): Rodrigues, Ana Raquel Martinho da Silva Felizardo
Date: 2012
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/5303
Origin: Repositório da UTL
Subject(s): Rocha pear; soil quality indicators; soil organic matter; soil management; cover crop; tillage
Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Different management systems induce modifications on ecosystems functioning, changing soil quality. In the context of growing concern for sustainability issues it becomes crucial to use physical, chemical and biological indicators able to identify effects on soil properties and processes. Such is the case of the Portuguese ‘Rocha’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) groves which represent an important economical value and specificity, mainly in the Centro NUT II region. Four orchards subjected to different management systems were selected (NT - no tillage with permanent natural cover crop; CT+E - tillage with manure incorporation; CT1 and CT2 - conventional tillage). Bulk density, exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+, pH, extractable P and K, total organic C and N, non humified and hot water soluble C, microbial biomass C and N, C and N mineralization, spontaneous vegetation biomass and biodiversity were determined. The NT orchard showed better quality in the upper layer of soil between tree rows. The CT+E system showed the greater increase in organic matter, but lower potential to nutrient recycling and supply. CT1 and CT2 presented a tendency to organic matter decline and deterioration of related properties. Long term experiments are needed to confirm these trends
