Soil conservation in mechanized olive orchards in portuguese Trás-os-Montes region

Abstract

Traditional practices for tillage in portuguese olive orchards can affect negatively environment, soil quality in particular. Alternative practices will be tested to avoid the negative impacts, reducing soil erosion, improving soil quality and increasing harvesting machinery trafficability. Field trials will take place in a olive orchard in the north of Portugal (Trás-os-Montes region).