Soil organic carbon sequestration in olive groves of Andalusiaeffect of the managements on soil organic carbon dynamics

Abstract

This thesis assesses the effect of the different management practices in Andalusian olive groves on the soil organic carbon accumulation, and also on its different fractions. Particularly, it has been focused on allowing the growth of a spontaneous vegetation cover in the inter-row area. Moreover, it has been also evaluated the positive effects of this practice on decreasing soil losses caused by water erosion in high-slope olive groves. Field and laboratory studies have been combined with the running of a model (RothC), which allowed to assess the soil organic carbon content after 100 years after changing the management from conventional to some sustainable managements. Otherwise, a meta-analysis has been also carried out in order to find out the carbon sequestration ability of Mediterranean woody crop soils.