Study

Soil carbon sequestration rates under Mediterranean woody crops using recommended management practices: a meta-analysis

  • Published source details Vicente-Vicente J.L., García-Ruiz R., Francaviglia R., Aguilera E. & Smith P. (2016) Soil carbon sequestration rates under Mediterranean woody crops using recommended management practices: a meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 235, 204-214.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Soil: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland
  1. Soil: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards

    A meta-analysis from 2016 of 24 studies in orchards and vineyards in Spain found more organic matter in soils with winter cover crops, compared to soils with conventional tillage. Organic matter: More organic carbon was found in soils with cover crops, compared to conventional tillage (data reported as the response ratio: 1.35). Methods: The Scopus database was searched for publications in January 2016, using the keywords, “olive” or “vineyard” or “almond” or the scientific names of these species, and the keywords “soil organic carbon” or “soil organic matter”. Together with publications from another meta-analysis(16), 24 replicated, controlled studies from 2005 to 2015 were meta-analysed. In these studies, soil samples were collected from depths of 0–10 to 0–90 cm in almond orchards, olive orchards, and vineyards in Mediterranean climates in Spain. Plots with cover crops mostly had resident vegetation over the winter, which was controlled by mowing, grazing, or using herbicide in the spring, or reduced tillage in spring and autumn. In plots without cover crops, resident vegetation was controlled throughout the year by using herbicide and/or conventional tillage. It was not clear whether these results were a direct effect of cover crops, tillage, herbicide, mowing, or grazing.

     

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust