Granada

Spain

Francisco Javier Roman Marin

MESIAS – Mejora de la Estructura del Suelo y de la Infiltracion en Agroecosistemas Sostenibles

The MESIAS project will be carried out on a dryland almond farm in the Huéscar region (Granada), where controlled grazing using smart digital collars will be combined with the installation of hydro-infiltrators to improve soil health, water retention and almond tree productivity.
It aims at improving the productivity and sustainability of almond exploitations through the use of soil regeneration practices. Its approach combines two lines of innovation: controlled grazing as a tool for managing vegetation cover and the implementation of hydro-infiltrators to optimise water collection and storage in Mediterranean agricultural soils subject to prolonged droughts and high surface runoff.(…) The plots and the sheeps are owned by the farmer.

Duration of the pilot 24 Months

Type of Farm

Mixed

Type of Soil

Pending analysis

Crops Involved

Almonds

Practices

  • Apply minimum tillage or no-tillage

  • Apply cover crops (variety of options)

  • Promote species diversification in grasslands

  • Apply water erosion/runoff control, e.g. through contouring

  • Apply deep rooting crops

  • Apply permanent ground cover

  • Apply system of minimal use of pesticides; e.g. through mechanical weed control, biological control of pests, etc

  • Controlled grazing using smart collars

  • Implementation of hydro-infi ltrators

  • Natural organic fertilisation derived from the farm’s own herd

  • Natural organic fertilisation through increased organic matter inputs from ground cover vegetation

  • Digitalisation of livestock and agricultural management