Effects of Cover Crops and Drip Fertigation Regime in a Young Almond Agroecosystem

The sustainability of woody crop agroecosystems requires continued improvements to water, nutrient and soil management. In this work, the combination resource availability or fertigation dose with management practices was tested in a 2 × factorial design drip irrigated young almond orchard. doses were: farmer supply at 60% evapotranspiration full requirements half-farmer 30% half requirements. bare cover crops inter-row (mixture grasses legumes). Tree growth, yield, water status, biomass status were determined, as well C N concentration. Results showed that effect independent vice versa. treatment reduced tree vegetative growth yield compared treatment, due negative on without observing decrease concentration nutrients leaves fruit. Trees also This nutritional competition, mainly Ca, Fe, Mn Zn, rather than decline status. Cover sequester up 1 t/ha/year carbon but do not increase organic carbon, nor total nitrogen. proved be efficient reducing nitrate topsoil therefore has potential prevent its leaching. Deficit use can effective preserve save resources Mediterranean agroecosystems, should established caution so compromise profitability