A first survey on the health quality of soils in Martell valley with the prospective of implementing organic production of strawberries

Manici L.M., Rossi A., Caputo F., Topp A.R., Zago M., Kelderer M. (2018). A first survey on the health quality of soils in Martell valley with the prospective of implementing organic production of strawberries. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018, 213-217

In the mountain valley Martelltal (Bolzano province, Italy), a classical area for strawberry
cultivation in high mountain areas, the interest for organic production is increasing. Due to
the very limited availability of land, strawberries have been grown very intensively and with
very narrow crop rotations. In order to understand soil heath in these areas, a survey was
carried out in four long term strawberry fields which had been subjected to different crop
rotation in the past. Three of them have been intensively cultivated with strawberry since
more than 25 year, whilst one since only 7 years. A greenhouse growth test on soil samples
from the selected fields was performed in greenhouse using young strawberry plants. Plant
growth parameters and root fungal colonization were evaluated aiming at investigating the
effect of different crop rotations on plant health. Plants grown on soil samples coming from
the three older strawberry fields did not differ in plant growth and strawberry production,
although one of them had been left fallow over the last 4 years. Conversely, plants grown
on soil samples taken from the more recent strawberry cultivation (7 years), showed
significantly higher plant vigour and production than those grown in soil from the other fields.
In addition, strawberry plants of the more recent specialized cultivations also showed the
highest diversity of root-colonizing fungi and a slightly, though not significantly lower
incidence of the agents of strawberry root rot (Pythium spp., Cylindrocarpon like fungi and
binucleate Rhiyoctonia) as compared those of the fields cultivated with strawberry over a
long term. Findings of this study suggest that leaving a field fallow for four years does not
result in a significant modification of fungal community composition in long-term strawberry
cultivations. Therefore, in rural areas devoted to high quality crops, which play a key role for
local economy, rotation and cropping practices aiming at preserving soil diversity should be
planned since the beginning in both conventional and organic agriculture.

Documents

A first survey on the health quality of soils in Martell valley with the prospective of implementing organic production of strawberries. () Manici L.M., Rossi A., Caputo F., Topp A.R., Zago M., Kelderer M. (2018). A first survey on the health quality of soils in Martell valley with the prospective of implementing organic production of strawberries. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018, 213-217

Links

Ecofruit-Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Organic Fruit-Growing 2018 “Ecofruit” is the continuation of the 17 previous meetings. It aims to bring together European researchers and consultants working on topics related to organic fruit growing. “Ecofruit” gives an opportunity to communicate and discuss latest results connected with organic fruit growing with regard to the improvement of the production system.

Details

Activity type

Publication in scientific journal (peer review)

Activity work package

Reduction in pesticide residues

Activity number

Laimburg - WP3 - A99

Activity contact

Dr. Markus Kelderer
Laimburg Research Centre
Laimburg 6 - Pfatten
I-39040 Post Auer (BZ), Italy
[email protected]

Activity partner

Laimburg

Activity country

Italy

Last edit

23-11-2018