Photo by Fausto Sobrinho
Brazil’s Fundecitrus reported on the benefits to citrus from the use of perennial cover crops such as Urochloa ruziziensis combined with the adoption of ecological mowing.
This technology has been gaining space in groves by redistributing the phytomass of cover crops from the interrows to the planting rows, forming a protective mulching layer over the soil. Benefits of the management strategy include:
- Preservation of moisture
- Erosion and compaction control
- Improved soil fertility and structure
- Weed management
- Thermal balance
A study revealed that soil cover also contributes to addressing climate change. The study was conducted by the Sylvio Moreira Citriculture Center of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), in partnership with the IAC Soil and Environmental Resources Center, Solidaridad Foundation and Yara Brasil, which supported the research. The research showed that areas with vegetation cover have a greater capacity to store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby contributing to global warming mitigation.
The work evaluated the effects of soil cover associated with different management practices, such as the use of ecological and conventional mowers, and the application of different sources of nitrogen fertilizers.
According to lead researcher Fernando Alves de Azevedo, the ecological mower stood out for redistributing the phytomass of the cover crops from the interrows to the planting rows, forming a layer rich in organic matter that helps reduce GHG emissions.
“We observed significant impacts with the use of Urochloa ruziziensis associated with ecological mowing and the use of calcium nitrate as a nitrogen source,” Azevedo said. “This combination has delivered benefits both in reducing GHG emissions and in stimulating soil life, creating more favorable conditions for plant development. In addition to increasing carbon retention, the management also increased levels of organic matter, improving soil structure.”
Azevedo said soil management directly influences GHG emissions. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions vary according to the type of fertilizer used, organic matter management and climatic conditions.
Among the analyzed management practices, the ecological mower and the use of calcium nitrate stood out, proving to be effective in increasing carbon retention in the soil, reducing nitrous oxide emissions and improving grove yields.
The combination of the ecological mower with fertilizers, such as ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate, was also effective in reducing the cumulative emissions of nitrous oxide, a gas with global warming potential 298 times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
The study concluded that management with ecological mowing increased Pera orange yield by approximately 12%, regardless of nitrogen fertilization. However, the interaction between ecological mowing and calcium nitrate was the most productive treatment, with increases of 29% and 20% in yield rates compared to using the conventional mower with ammonium nitrate and urea, respectively.
Azevedo said the use of these technologies improved the physicochemical quality of the fruit, decreased the incidence of diseases such as citrus canker and has potential to reduce the carbon footprint of orange juice production.
Source: Fundecitrus
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