Soil Quality Index of Young and Differently Managed Almond Orchards under Mediterranean Conditions

Sustainable agriculture has drawn attention to the maintenance and enhancement of soil health. However, research on quality been carried out mainly in field crops and, a lesser extent, mature orchards, neglecting relevance assessing status first years tree plantations. Therefore, aim this study was assess index young almond orchards located marginal lands managed under different practices. The survey Teruel Province (Northeast Spain), three orchards: Alacón (2 old, 0.75 ha, rainfed, conventionally managed), San Martín (1 year 0.4 irrigated, organically Valdealgorfa (6 0.2 managed). composite samples were taken from spots within each orchard. To determine index, four main functions considered: filtering buffering, nutrient supply, water relations, crop limitation. indices 0.55, 0.75, 0.54 for Alacón, Martín, respectively. These values suggested that evaluated soils are adequate production, although they require management actions improve their (for instance, application organic amendments) increase sustainability these agroecosystems. Furthermore, work provides framework assessment at stage.