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Background and Aims <p>Cover cropping in tree crop systems may improve soil health and fertility, leading to higher agroecosystem resilience. Benefits may be greater with mixtures, as legumes promote biological nitrogen fixation while non-legumes can reduce nutrient leaching.</p> Methods <p>The effects of three cover crop treatments (non-legume mix [NL], legume + non-legume mix [LG], and weedy, unmanaged control [UC]) on citrus production (leaf nutrients, yield, and juice quality) and bio-chemical soil properties were evaluated at two sites (Old Grove and Young Grove with trees &gt; 20 and &lt; 10&#xa0;years, respectively) in a southwest Florida commercial citrus orchard with sandy soils. From 2021–2024, soil health indicators were measured seven times at 0–15&#xa0;cm, while fruit quality and yield (March/April), leaf nutrients (September), and soil fertility at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–50&#xa0;cm (September) were measured annually.</p> Results <p>Treatment and time affected soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Only time affected carbon mineralization, soil protein, and resin-extractable phosphorus. In the Young Grove, LG had significantly higher POXC and SOM than NL. Relative to UC, PMN was significantly higher in LG (each time, by 27%) and both mixtures (twice, by 67%) in the Young- and Old Grove, respectively. Although all leaf nutrients and most soil nutrients (except nitrate and Mehlich III potassium) were similar across treatments, mixtures improved juice quality and fruit yield (by 41–63%) in the Young Grove in 2024, relative to UC.</p> Conclusion <p>Overall, cover cropping can improve citrus production and nitrogen mineralization in stress-prone orchards, but early establishment likely maximizes benefits.</p>

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Cover crops enhance tree fruit production on sandy soils despite minimal impact on bio-chemical soil health indicators and fertility

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月8日

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  • Yaslin N. Gonzalez,
  • Sarah L. Strauss,
  • Marcio R. Nunes,
  • Allan R. Bacon,
  • Gabriel Maltais-Landry

摘要

Background and Aims

Cover cropping in tree crop systems may improve soil health and fertility, leading to higher agroecosystem resilience. Benefits may be greater with mixtures, as legumes promote biological nitrogen fixation while non-legumes can reduce nutrient leaching.

Methods

The effects of three cover crop treatments (non-legume mix [NL], legume + non-legume mix [LG], and weedy, unmanaged control [UC]) on citrus production (leaf nutrients, yield, and juice quality) and bio-chemical soil properties were evaluated at two sites (Old Grove and Young Grove with trees > 20 and < 10 years, respectively) in a southwest Florida commercial citrus orchard with sandy soils. From 2021–2024, soil health indicators were measured seven times at 0–15 cm, while fruit quality and yield (March/April), leaf nutrients (September), and soil fertility at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–50 cm (September) were measured annually.

Results

Treatment and time affected soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Only time affected carbon mineralization, soil protein, and resin-extractable phosphorus. In the Young Grove, LG had significantly higher POXC and SOM than NL. Relative to UC, PMN was significantly higher in LG (each time, by 27%) and both mixtures (twice, by 67%) in the Young- and Old Grove, respectively. Although all leaf nutrients and most soil nutrients (except nitrate and Mehlich III potassium) were similar across treatments, mixtures improved juice quality and fruit yield (by 41–63%) in the Young Grove in 2024, relative to UC.

Conclusion

Overall, cover cropping can improve citrus production and nitrogen mineralization in stress-prone orchards, but early establishment likely maximizes benefits.