
MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF COVER CROPS THROUGH WINTER LEGUME SPECIES SELECTION AND CROP MANAGEMENT
MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF COVER CROPS THROUGH WINTER LEGUME SPECIES SELECTION AND CROP MANAGEMENT
Maintaining the competitiveness and economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture requires that it constantly adapt to new challenges, among which those arising from climate change and agri-food quality are becoming increasingly important. Climate change is generating a series of environmental stresses that make it necessary to develop new agricultural products and practices that improve the sustainability of the agroecosystem. There are some challenges in the production of woody fruit crops, such as citrus, due to, for example, the increasingly frequent detection of invasive pests and diseases, and soil desertification and erosion, which jeopardize the future viability of these crops. The use of cover crops is a valuable strategy for many reasons: they improve soil structure and sustainability, increase water and nutrient retention, promote microbial activity, reduce weed growth and the incidence of pests, and improve plant growth. Winter annual legumes can be very beneficial in cover crops due to their potential to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, add organic matter to the soil, and fix nitrogen (N) in spring. These attributes, in addition to the growing recognition of the environmental benefits of cover crops by European policies, make them a very useful agronomic tool in sustainable crop production. Despite this, there is currently little information on the use of this type of strategy to guide citrus growers in aspects of establishment and management of winter cover crops, as well as in the selection of suitable plant species according to the crop, the conditions of the area and the ecosystem services (benefits) of the cover crop.
In this context and in line with the objectives proposed by the AEI-Agri, the MAXI-CoberLEG initiative was born, which addresses the search for solutions to these challenges by adopting an innovative approach that integrates productivity, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and quality (see Figure). The project will begin with the evaluation of the productivity, adaptability and viability of different local species/varieties of lupine for their synergy in winter groundcovers together with the contextualization (edaphological and biological) of citrus environments (ACTIVITY 1). Following this purpose, the measurement and analysis of the impact that these groundcovers will have on conservative biological control (ACTIVITY 2), soil structure and health, biodiversity in microorganisms in the rooting system of the ecosystem (ACTIVITY 3), and yield and quality of the harvest (ACTIVITY 4) will be carried out. At the same time, a dissemination program will be carried out in order to transfer the knowledge and results obtained in each of the previous activities (ACTIVITY 5).
The innovative aspects of the project are, firstly, to highlight the intrinsic potential of the native biodiversity of lupine in winter groundcovers, increasing the sustainability and profitability of citrus crops, due to their adaptation and productivity in cultivation systems and by incorporating benefits to the agroecosystem through functional biodiversity; secondly, by the use of agricultural practices based on the improvement of soil structure and health; and thirdly, by enhancing consumer opportunities due to improved harvest quality. In this context, GO MAXI-CoberLEG is located in FOCAL AREA 3A (PDR 2014-2020) and PRIORITY 4, and is included in the EU Ecolabel category (ARTICLE 1 2015/2099). The product, varieties of legumes for cover crops, is included in CHAPTER 6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The achievement of the proposed objectives will be the result of a public-private collaboration between members with recognized technical capacity and extensive experience, of a multidisciplinary nature, covering all phases of the agri-food chain, and with a proven capacity for innovation and response to the market, belonging to 4 autonomous communities (Galicia, Region of Murcia, Catalonia and Valencian Community): Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), la Universidad de Valencia (UV), Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Bio Varsella S.L., Masía El Carmen S.L, Cooperativa Agrícola de Pego (COOPEGO), Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L. y la Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega (FEUGA). The MAXI-CoberLEG project will be a key action for green recovery, based on the promotion of sustainable development and resilience through the introduction of new products, winter plant covers made of native lupins, and the provision of new innovative agricultural practices that improve and add value to the citrus agroecosystem.
Figure. Summary of the different problems and opportunities
Misión Biológica-CSIC coordinates the project through Marta Santalla as technical PI.
Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega (FEUGA) is the general coordinator of the project.
Other partners: Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Bio Varsella S.L., Masía El Carmen S.L., Cooperativa Agrícola de Pego (COOPEGO).
Subcontracted members: Universidad de Valencia (UV), Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L.
The Maxi-CoberLEG project is part of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC) 2023-2027, funded 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). The Directorate General for Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-Food Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for the implementation of the aforementioned aid.
Total project budget: €598,609.05 Total subsidy: €591,393.44.
Funding MBG: 96.680,30 €