Alexandre, C.A.; Bajouco, R.; Leal, J.D.S.; Peça, J.O.; Dias, A.B. Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Carbon Stock Two Years after Compost Application in a Hedgerow Olive Grove. Agronomy2023, 13, 1933.
Alexandre, C.A.; Bajouco, R.; Leal, J.D.S.; Peça, J.O.; Dias, A.B. Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Carbon Stock Two Years after Compost Application in a Hedgerow Olive Grove. Agronomy 2023, 13, 1933.
Alexandre, C.A.; Bajouco, R.; Leal, J.D.S.; Peça, J.O.; Dias, A.B. Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Carbon Stock Two Years after Compost Application in a Hedgerow Olive Grove. Agronomy2023, 13, 1933.
Alexandre, C.A.; Bajouco, R.; Leal, J.D.S.; Peça, J.O.; Dias, A.B. Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Carbon Stock Two Years after Compost Application in a Hedgerow Olive Grove. Agronomy 2023, 13, 1933.
Abstract
Soil amendments with composted organic materials are recommended to increase soil organic matter (SOM), promote soil fertility, and the Circular Economy. Growing areas of hedged olive groves in southern Iberia peninsula generate huge amounts of olive leaves whose potential as soil organic amendment is not fully studied. An experimental field trial in a hedged olive grove (cv. “Cobrançosa”) was set up near Portalegre, Portugal, to test a compost of olive leaves plus sheep manure (2:1) applied in the row, at soil surface. Three nominal rates (0 or control, 2.5 and 5.0 kg m-2) were used, in a complete randomized block setup (3 treatments, 3 replicas, 9 plots) and soil chemical properties of layers 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm deep were annually monitored. Results (mainly in layer 0-5 cm) showed increases in total N, carbon of the particulate organic matter (POM-C), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C), extractable phosphorus, and zinc, after one year, and increases in soil organic carbon (SOC), C-stock, pHKCl, extractable phosphorus, and zinc, after two years. POX-C was the most sensitive SOM-related indicator, showing increases up to 30 cm deep after one year. This compost improved soil fertility, but should be monitored over longer periods of time, namely for SOC and extractable zinc content.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
