Impact of plant covers on Pelargonium x asperum yields and soil biology (macrofauna) in Réunion (France)
In the Hauts de I'Ouest region of Réunion, soil fertility is a problem that hampers rose geranium (Pelargonium x asperum) cropping. The abandonment of fallowing, the use of cropping systems on bare soils (monocropping or rotations), in conjunction with the very high erodibility of andosols has led to physical, chemical and biological (macrofauna) soil degradation, which in turn has substantially reduced essential oil yields. Experiments were set up to test cropping systems with plant cover to potentially overcome this problem. Two types of cover were tested: imported mulch, i.e. sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) straw; or live cover formed by intercropping a perennial species (Stenotaphrum secundatum) with the main rose geranium crop. The results showed a highly significant increase in geranium above-ground biomass and distilled essential yields as compared to geranium cropping systems on bare soil. In addition, biodiversity, biomass, and soil macrofauna density were restored under this plant cover.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
XUL
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| Subjects: | F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture, Pelargonium, couverture végétale, huile essentielle, plante à huiles essentielles, faune du sol, paillis, Saccharum officinarum, Stenotaphrum secundatum, données de production, biomasse, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5660, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25409, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2669, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2668, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7169, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7442, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6727, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34749, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_32548, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_926, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6543, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081, |
| Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/513172/ |
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