Sustainable farming of lemon trees orchard in in southern Spain (Alicia Morugán Coronado)
Water shortage and soil degradation are the two most important environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. Indeed, the problem will increase in the coming decades as a consequence of climate change as a result of a great decrease of precipitation and rising temperatures and increased evapotranspiration.
Thus, it is necessary to resort to strategies aimed at soil and water. Soil degradation is one of the main environmental problems caused, in many cases, by inadequate agricultural management of irrigation with low-quality water. Intensive arable agriculture and semiarid conditions cause a progressive decline in soil organic matter levels and associated soil fertility. In addition, under semi-arid conditions, Mediterranean soils are prone to loss of organic matter; increasing in semi-arid climates result in faster oxidation of organic matter and due the scarcity of rainfall causes vegetation cover to become very sparse. All of this leads to reduced input of organic matter into the soil. Thus, sustainable farming is necessary, e.g. organic fertilization systems have been amply implemented to increase plant productivity, reduce chemical inputs, and increase the sustainability of such agroecosystems. It is thus important to begin using organic inputs, such as manure as a nutrient source for crop production because it is imporant to improve soil organic matter. This would potentially lead to improving soil biology, fertility and physical fertility traits such as soil aggregation, porosity and water retention.
Generally, this approach aims to encourage sustainable agricultural management in citrus orchards and keep environmental sustainability in the region of Vega Baja, in Alicante province (Spain). Its specific objectives are:
(1) to enhance the agricultural production in the region,
(2) to maintain sustainable agricultural management in soil
(3) to improve product quality,
(4) to obtain organic food consumer demand in the country, and
(5) to develop a strong linkage and partnership among local stakeholders and cooperators to protect the resources.
Stages of implementation:
(1) Renting a conventional orchard and changing the agricultural management to include more sustainable practices
(2) Obtaining eco-labelling to sell organic food product in European markets
(3) Constant improvement and maintanence practices to improve soil fertility and productivity
(4) Monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.
Role of stakeholders:
Land user:
1. Teaching other land users.
2. improving the knowledge through consulting IVIA.
3. Seeking advice from a biologist in identifying pests and diseases.
IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias)
1. Disseminate results through small formation events.
2. Prepare farmer-led programs to implement soil and water conservation;
3. Provide technical support and assistance in the promotion and dissemination.
Localização: Orihuela, Vega Baja del Segura region, Spain, Espanha
Data de início: 2014
Ano de término: n.a.
Tipo de abordagem
| Que partes interessadas/órgãos de implementação estavam envolvidos na abordagem? | Especifique as partes interessadas | Descreva o papel das partes interessadas |
| Usuários de terra/comunidades locais | Farmers association | Promotion of product in markets |
| Especialistas em GST/ consultor agrícola | Advisor | Biological control during the year |
| Pesquisadores | Miguel Hernández University (UMH) | Assessing of soil properties |
| Organização internacional | Global G.A.P | Certification of Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) label to the executing farm |
In 2010 the land user hired a conventional orchard and modified the agricultural management to more sustainable practices, in 2014 certified by eco-labelling to sale organic food product in eurpoean markets, in present, the land user is in constant improvement and maintanence practices to improve soil fertility and productivity and monitoring and evaluation including operation and maintenance.
As decisões foram tomadas por
As decisões foram tomadas com base em
Miguel Hernández University is taking soil sampling in order to know the soil quality of this sustainable agricultural area.
Disseminate results with small formation events by land user as a teacher.
Thanks to the approach the constant enhancement in the sustainable management is doing.
The approach facilitates the implementation and maintenance of SLM technology in order to increase the product quality.
In short-term more costs than benefits.
No, the land user didn't recieve funding during the process.
yes, the constant improvement and modifications in the sustainable management involve the land user in the increase of agricultural knowledge.
Yes, the land user gives some small training coursers to other farmers.
Yes, in 2015 the land user joined to the Citrisol farmer association.
The training course is targeting to young local farmers.
Yes, the approach is focused in improve the product quality following a sustainable soil management.
Yes, all the product is sold in regional, national and european markets
The approach lead to market opportunities
The land user can sustain the costs because the lemon price on the market increases thanks to the sustainable certification.
