Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in Mediterranean crops
- Autores: Martina Oddo
- Directores de la Tesis: Vito Armando Laudicina (dir. tes.), Mercedes Verdeguer Sancho (dir. tes.), Eristanna Palazzolo (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat Politècnica de València ( España ) en 2017
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Jorge Canhoto (presid.), Carlos Mesejo Conejos (secret.), Primo Proietti (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Recursos y Tecnologías Agrícolas por la Universitat Politècnica de València
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: RiuNet
- Resumen
Effects of different weed control practices on soil quality in mediterranean crops This research approaches the question of weed control sustainability, from the point of view of soil quality maintenance and enhancing.
A big choice of practices and products for weed control are available nowadays, but the actual definition of "sustainable practice" not always considers soil fertility. Soil processes timescale is wider than the productive, commercial and legislative ones. Also the definition of survey protocols is a process slower than the evolution of weed control methods.
The faster reaction in the soil ecosystem after an external pressure is given by the organisms living in it, and the microbial community is finally the most effective agent in nutrient recycling processes. In this investigation, the same soil analysis protocol was applied on soil samples exposed to different weed management and control methods. Using soil quality indexes and bioindicators, soil properties variations after the different weed control treatments were compared. In particular soil carbon pool and how microbial community recycles was surveyed. A standard protocol to both find variations in long-term soil quality and survey the short-term impact of weed control practices on soil biological processes was defined.
Weed management practices can interact with the nutrients recycling processes performed by the microorganisms living in the soil. These processes have a central role in maintaining soil fertility, one of the most important resources for agriculture.
Three weed management practices were compared: the use of synthetic (oxyfluorfen) or natural (essential oils and aqueous extracts) herbicides and two mechanical methods (tillage and mulching).
Soil fertility was monitored measuring soil physical-chemical values and elaborating soil quality indexes and bioindicators.
