Living mulch under the row of young peach orchard

This research work focuses on living mulch between-trees under-row management that can be used to improve weed control, yield and quality of main and of second crops, eventually with a financial return. The living mulches, namely herbaceous plants with good attitude in covering the soil, play a pivotal role in making a new equilibrium with different species biodiversity, crops physiology (i.e. biomass production), yield and quality, soil fertility, and finally augmenting soil C sequestration. The objective of this work, carried out under the financial support of operational group PRO-PLAT (PSR Marche), was to evaluate living mulch in a peach orchard starting from the trees planting. Different species were tested: Trifolium repens L. (dwarf clover), Mentha x piperita L., Fragaria vesca L. compared to chopping of spontaneous weeds. Living mulch was proved to be effective in covering soil in the first year, with clover and mint as the most efficient species to contain undesired spontaneous weeds. Peach trees growth resulted similar behavior in all treatments without significant reduction due to competition with living mulch. The living mulch in the first year has been hence proven to be a promising technique. Overall, farmers should start testing the use of living mulches in small areas, to verify their adaptation to local conditions, and then to extend the practice to larger superficies.

Automated summary

This research focuses on using living mulch between-trees to improve weed control and crop yield and quality. The study shows that in the first year, living mulch effectively covers the soil and promotes peach tree growth, demonstrating promising potential.