SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF GREEN COVER ON SOIL QUALITY AND PLANT BIODIVERSITY OF MEDITERRANEAN ORGANIC OLIVE GROVES

Abstract

Environmental impacts, low yields and high production costs of conventional agriculture threaten the ancient olive groves which are an important Mediterranean benchmark. Implementation of low-impact and cost-effective agricultural practices and evaluation of their short-term effects under organic management are challenges for sustainable management. This work aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of green cover on soil quality and plant biodiversity, focusing on selecting sensitive indicators by comparing organic and conventional management systems. Two green covers - mixed cover crop species (ORG-MCCS) and natural cover (ORG-NATVEG) - were compared with conventional groves (CONV). Soil quality and plant biodiversity were evaluated before and after green cover application. The results showed that certain physical and chemical and most measured biological soil parameters differed significantly between treatments. Moreover, ORG-MCCS performed better than ORGNATVEG. The parameters were selected to be sensitive indicators. In conclusion, the present work gives further information on the effects of management systems and green cover application on olive orchards. Impact assessment of agricultural practices on plant and soil biodiversity and testing of the selected indicators in similar studies could help in designing sustainable olive-growing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]