ifoam'96 Book of Abstracts 11th IFOAM Scientific Conference 11-15 August 1996, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Posters

Ecological Cropping Systems in Semi-Arid Areas. P1; 70

1Servicio de Investigación y Tecnologia Agrária, Pintor Matías Moreno 4, 45071 Toledo, Spain. 2Finca Experimental la Higueruela CSIC. Sta. Olalla, Toledo, Spain

The economical and technical viability of five ecological rotations, without exogenous contribution (synthetic or natural), are evaluated. The rotations were fallow-barley, forage vetch-barley, incorporated vetch-barley, sunflower-barley, strips of forage vetch-barley and barley-barley as test to which herbicides and synthetic chemical fertilizers were applied.
The experiment has been carried out in the central Region of Spain (Toledo), it was initiated in 1992-1993, starting the study of the results in the following year, 1993-94. The experimental desing were of four random blocks with three replications, the elemental trials have 400 m2 (20 x 20 m). Cultivar varieties are rustic, in order to get the most residues, pests and diseases resistance and weeds competition. Nutrients restitution to the soil in ecological rotations, were done through the incorporation cereal straw and profiting or rotations functions, as nitrogen fixation and green manure. Composting the crop residues in soil was done profiting temperature and moisture of fallow and sunflower treatments. Weeds control were carried out through management of the rotation systems and the use of a flexible toothed harrow.
The result of two years experimentation (1993-1995) do not show significative differences among the chemical factors of the soil, but the economical yields are better in ecological treatments.