Description of practice
An underlayer of planted or spontaneous vegetation keeps the soil permanently covered, protecting it from the physical impact of water, wind and exposure to the sun. It is relevant for agricultural land under permanent crops that would otherwise have a bare surface.
| Examples of how to use permanent green cover in orchards | Further information (see Note below) |
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Green cover in vineyardsA natural grass cover is established in vineyards to control soil erosion, reduce the use of herbicides and increase biodiversity. |
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Grass cover in orchardA permanent cover of spontaneous or sown perennial grasses is established between rows in orchards to prevent water erosion and limit the leaching of nutrients (particularly nitrates) and pesticides. |
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Cover crops for nematode managementA five-species mix of radish and mustard is established between the rows of walnut trees. In addition to the fertility and soil structure benefits, the cover crop helps create an environment beneficial to soil microbes and reduces nematode pressure. |
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Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.