Shifting Long-Term Tillage to Geotextile Mulching for Weed Control Improves Soil Quality and Yield of Orange Orchards

Weed control in urban and peri-urban orange orchards is challenging due to operational legislative restrictions. Tillage, besides from negatively affecting soil fertility microorganisms, demanding for humans. On the other hand, herbicides are advised against possibility reach waterbodies surface. Therefore, areas, instead of tillage herbicides, mulching with black plastic geotextile fabric often used. This study aimed at assessing impact long-term on fertility, microbial community yield an orchard comparison conventional tillage. To this aim, four management systems were set up: rotary last 15 years, geotextiles 7 years followed by 8 years. Soil samples analyzed determine chemical biochemical parameters related fertility. In addition, abundances main groups investigated. Mulching increased total organic C least 65%. The greater mulched turn contributed increase cation exchange capacity (+62% average) biomass (+120% average). Additionally, quotient exhibited higher values soils compared tilled ones, suggesting a matter accessibility microorganisms. Moreover, favored fungi over bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria Gram-negative thus contributing establishment more efficient utilizing sources. latter result was confirmed lower metabolic one. Overall, improved that, turn, lead soil.