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Diversifying citrus

Diversifying citrus

The cultivation of citrus such as oranges or mandarins is typical in the east of Spain. Mandarin industry in Región de Murcia occupies vast fields and it is key in the agribusiness from the area.

Traditional irrigation monoculture and intense tillage together with pesticides, herbicides and mineral fertilizers generate negative effects.

High soil erosion rates, low quality and organic matter shortage causes economic damages for the farmers. In Diverfarming, we propose two different crop diversifications in order to end up this situation.

Proposals

Diversification

Multiple crops

Intercropping with multiple crops of vetch, barley or oat with fava beans

Crop rotation

Intercropped with rotations of:

  • multiple crop of barley, vetch or oat with fava beans
  • multiple crop of bladder campion for food, purslane for food and cardoon for food
  • multiple cropping of cowpea for food and rocket for food.

Management

  • Addition of compost Addition of compost
  • Green manure Green manure
  • Integrated pest control Integrated pest control
  • Reduce tillage Reduce tillage
  • Ground cover Ground cover
  • Regulated deficit irrigation Regulated deficit irrigation