RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Developing cover crop systems for California almonds: Current knowledge and uncertainties
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 5A
OP 11A
DO 10.2489/jswc.2023.1109A
VO 78
IS 1
A1 Wauters, Vivian M.
A1 Jarvis-Shean, Katherine
A1 Williams, Neal
A1 Hodson, Amanda
A1 Hanson, Bradley D.
A1 Haring, Steven
A1 Wilson, Houston
A1 Westphal, Andreas
A1 Solis, Samuel Sandoval
A1 Daane, Kent
A1 Mitchell, Jeff
A1 Gaudin, Amélie C.M.
YR 2023
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/78/1/5A.abstract
AB Almond (Prunus amygdalus) orchard systems are highly productive and widespread in Mediterranean climates and dominate the California agricultural landscape. However, current intensive monocultural bare soil production practices limit the potential to support nonproduction functions (i.e., multifunctionality) and long-term sustainability of the orchard system (Aizen et al. 2019; Fenster et al. 2021). Managing orchards for multifunctional benefits includes maintaining ecologically and economically viable yields while prioritizing water quality, soil health, reduced input use, and support for biodiversity. Recent studies in almond demonstrate that diversification, including planted or spontaneous (resident) vegetation in orchard alleys, can improve multifunctionality by enhancing nonproduction functions in the orchard without reducing crop yield, thereby providing opportunities to enhance sustainability and resilience (Fenster et al. 2021; Morugán-Coronado et al. 2020).