Orange tree plantation (Celia Gosálbez Monllor)
This technology is applied in a 40-year-old orange orchard located in Xixona, Alicante (Spain), near to the de la Torre River. It is within the municipality of Jijona, Alicante province, south of the urban area. The 0.2 ha farm is dedicated to home consumption, with a permanent orchard based on fruit trees, predominantly citrus, with other horticultural crops depending on the season, irrigated by water from the de la Torre River. The orange orchard has recently been expanded by the acquisition of orange tree seedlings (budlings) in 2000, which have added to the established, mature, twenty trees. The management of the plantation in the last 20 years, after a change of ownership, has been as follows. Ploughing to the depth of 20 cm with a motorized tiller to remove weeds, 2-3 times a year, keeping the plant material on the surface as a mulching cover. Flood irrigation is practiced in the orchard for both the citrus and the vegetables. Pest control avoids artificial pesticides and fungicides – with pests being prevented by encouraging the presence of natural predators. There are traps against the fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), and an insect sticky trap has also been put to use. In recent years, there has been no fertilization of the orchard (the farmer believes it not to be necessary at present), although traditionally (before 2000) the manure from goats installed on the farm was used. In the main plot, between rows of orange trees, there are plant frames (10 x 10 m each) which are used for vegetables crops (lettuce, potatoes, fava beans, spinach, etc) in a crop rotation system (2 cycles per year). During a one-year cycle, annual crops are changed in rotational cycles: lettuce in summer, beans in winter. The main purpose of this technology is the improvement of soil structure and the organic matter content of the soil, while also preventing soil erosion from surface runoff. Using mulch from prunings or weed material has been a main route for improving soil organic matter, soil nutrient status and to prevent soil depletion by erosion. Carbon sequestration has been ensured by permanent green cover in the intercropping system. The land users are improving the technology continuously: minimizing the impact on the agro-ecosystem by avoiding the use of pesticides, intercropping and following a crop rotation.
Lieu: Xixona, Alicante, Espagne
Nbr de sites de la Technologie analysés: site unique
Diffusion de la Technologie: appliquée en des points spécifiques ou concentrée sur une petite surface
Dans des zones protégées en permanence ?: Non
Date de mise en oeuvre: 2000
Type d'introduction
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (euro) | Coût total par intrant (euro) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| soil preparation | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| orange tree plantation | 25 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Water Irrigation | 1 | 50,0 | 1,0 | 50,0 | 100,0 |
| vegetables plantation | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipements | |||||
| Hoe | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| shovel | 1 | 1,0 | 15,0 | 15,0 | 100,0 |
| Matériel végétal | |||||
| Orange tree | 1 | 20,0 | 15,0 | 300,0 | 100,0 |
| Plants | 1 | 25,0 | 2,0 | 50,0 | 100,0 |
| seeds | 1 | 50,0 | 1,0 | 50,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie | 505.0 | ||||
| Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD) | 510.1 | ||||
| Spécifiez les intrants | Unité | Quantité | Coûts par unité (euro) | Coût total par intrant (euro) | % des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres |
| Main d'œuvre | |||||
| soil preparation | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Harvesting vegetables | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Water Irrigation | 1 | 50,0 | 1,0 | 50,0 | 100,0 |
| Equipements | |||||
| Hoe | 1 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| Matériel végétal | |||||
| vegetables plantation | 1 | 2,0 | 10,0 | 20,0 | 100,0 |
| seeds | 1 | 20,0 | 1,0 | 20,0 | 100,0 |
| orange tree | 25 | 1,0 | 10,0 | 10,0 | 100,0 |
| vegetables plant | 1 | 25,0 | 2,0 | 50,0 | 100,0 |
| Engrais et biocides | |||||
| Prunning | |||||
| Autre | |||||
| Weeding | 1 | 4,0 | 10,0 | 40,0 | 100,0 |
| Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie | 220.0 | ||||
| Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD) | 222.22 | ||||
a slight improvement was observed in crop production by the land user
a slight improvement was observed in crop quality by the land user
The user and its family self-consumed the vegetables harvested from the orchard
Because of the no pesticides used in this orchard, the health risks decreases
All the family cooperate during the harvest in a family tradition
The user improves its knowledge with the experience gained annually
WIth the permanent green cover, the surface runoff decreases
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soil moisture
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soil cover
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows decreased the soil erosion
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soil formation and structure
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows decreased the soil
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows decreased the soil compactation
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soil nutrients
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soilorganic matter
The permanent green cover between fruti trees rows increased vegetation cover
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the soil biomass
The intercropping system between fruit trees rows increased the plant diversity on the orchard
