In a Persimmon crop area near Valencia (south-east Spain), the research team of the University of Valencia set up an experiment in order to test the effect of the catch crop technique to avoid soil water erosion and improve soil properties.
Purpose of the Technology: The increase in ground cover will decrease soil erosion by reducing raindrop impact on the bare soil. Amount of runoff also decrease by increasing water surface storage, decrease of runoff velocity, and increase of infiltration. Its application must be done after cropping and before high-storm events in the Mediterranean; namely end summer to early autumn, in order to protect raindrop impact and detachment of bare soil.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Catch crops will be obtained after harvesting.
Natural / human environment: The persimmon production in the area has been implemented in recent time due to the market prices. There has been a quick land use change from citrus orchards to persimmon orchards.
The landscape reflects the long history of management where several constructions related with wine production depicted its importance on this region. Since the late 1960´s, chemical agriculture by use of fertilizers and herbicides, and new orchards plantations as Persimmon, led seasonally the soil surface bare, triggering huge erosion rates.
Lieu: Valencia, Spain, Espagne
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