http://hdl.handle.net/10174/151 2026-04-06T00:07:10Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/39343 Title: Precision Agriculture in silvopastoral systems: A case study from the Montado (part I – Cone penetrometer applications). Authors: Marques, J.H.; Paniágua, L.; Carreira, Emanuel; Mendes, S.; Lloberas, D.; Serrano, João Abstract: The Montado is a distinctive silvopastoral system of the Southern Iberian Peninsula, integrating pastures, trees (typically cork oak, Quercus suber, and/or holm oak, Quercus rotundifolia), and domestic livestock (ruminants or swine). Precision Agriculture (PA), predominantly explored in purely agricultural systems, offers substantial potential to optimize Montado management, thereby enhancing its economic, environmental, social, and cultural sustainability. Given the inherent high spatial heterogeneity within Montado plots, the deployment of PA technologies capable of detecting such variability is crucial for informed, site-specific management. Among these technologies are soil compaction sensors, notably the electronic cone penetrometer, which provides the Cone Index (CI) – a key metric for soil physical quality. During the 2021/2022 agricultural year, a holm oak Montado plot (area = 20 ha; location: Mitra/University of Évora), grazed by cattle under a rotational system (0,6 Normal Head/ha), was monitored at 24 distinct points (12 under tree canopy influence and 12 in open pasture, outside canopy influence). Significant correlations were established between CI and soil moisture content. Regarding the effect of animal trampling on soil compaction, this was found to be significant outside the tree canopy at all assessed depths (0-0.10m; 0.10-0.20m; 0.20-0.30m). Conversely, under the tree canopy, significant effects of trampling were confined to the uppermost 0-0.1m soil layer. Significant differences in CI were also observed according to sampling date, whereas overall plot-level effects (beyond the specific tree canopy vs. open area comparison) were not significant. Unsurprisingly, locations with higher animal congregation, indicative of preferential resting or transit areas, exhibited greater CI values. Instances where CI exceeded 2500 kPa – a widely recognized threshold indicative of mechanical impedance restricting root growth for many agricultural crops – were infrequent. The prevailing precipitation during the study year, which amounted to approximately two-thirds of the long-term average (mean 1994-2024 = 600 mm), likely attenuated the adverse impact of animal-induced soil compaction on the productivity of these rainfed pastures. The principal findings underscore that soil compaction in these silvopastoral systems is a dynamic and complex process, influenced by an interplay of factors including tree presence, animal behaviour, and temporal soil moisture variations. This complexity warrants the extension of such detailed investigations to other soil types and Montado configurations. Furthermore, there is a clear justification for conducting similar trials over longer evaluation cycles. Such longitudinal studies are essential for the robust calibration and validation of these PA technological tools, ultimately empowering farm managers with more precise data for enhanced decision-making and sustainable land stewardship. 2025-08-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/34009 Title: Influence of different pruning solutions in kernel production of a super high-density almond orchard Authors: Dias, António; Donno, Patrick; Reis, José; Falcão, José; Pinheiro, Anacleto Abstract: The success of the super high density (SHD) system on olive production has been extended to almond orchards, where it is necessary to ensure adequate canopy dimensions for over-the-row harvesting machines. In an almond orchard from Soleta cultivar planted in September 2014 at Herdade da Torre das Figueiras in Monforte, Portalegre, Portugal (39º 04’ N, 07º 29’W), a trial to evaluate different pruning solutions was established. Four treatments (T0, T1, T2, T3) were compared: T0 (farmer pruning) - summer pruning (mechanical pruning in 2015, 2018 and 2019 and manual pruning in 2016), post-harvest pruning (mechanical pruning in 2017) and winter pruning (manual pruning in 2016 and 2018 and mechanical pruning followed by manual pruning in 2017); T1- no pruning interventions in 2015, 2016 or 2017 and manual pruning in 2018 and 2019; T2 - involving summer pruning (mechanical pruning in 2015) and post-harvest pruning (mechanical pruning in 2017, 2018 and 2019), and T3 - summer pruning (mechanical pruning in 2015, 2018 and 2019) and post-harvest pruning (mechanical pruning in 2017). In 2018, manual winter pruning was carried out in all the treatments. Significant differences were registered in harvested kernel almond yield between years (2017-2019). In 2018, there were significant differences between treatments, with T0 recording a significantly lower almond kernel production harvested than those obtained by T2. However, in the average of 3 years, there were no significant differences between treatments. 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/33969 Title: Evaluation of the influence of mechanical pruning in the performance of the Row-Side Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester Prototype Authors: Dias, António B.; Falcão, José; Pinheiro, Anacleto; Peça, José O. Abstract: In high density olive orchards, mechanical harvesting is made by trunk shaking requiring a high demand of manual labour. The use of adapted over-the-row grape harvesters is not available in these groves due to large canopies dimension. A prototype based on the side row concept was developed. The prototype comprises two symmetrical harvesters trailed by a farm tractor. Each harvester has a vibratory rotor with flexible rods, a catching platform with conveyors belts delivering fruits to a temporary storage bag. From 2015 to 2018, authors carried out a trial to evaluate the adequacy of olive canopy based on mechanical pruning in the performance of the prototype. The trial was established in an irrigated olive orchard of Picual cultivar planted with the array 7m x 3.5m. In a randomized complete block design with three replications, three treatments are being compared leading to 9 plots with 30 trees/plot. The treatments under study are: T1 – mechanical pruning: topping the canopy parallel to the ground at 3.5m high in 2015 and 3.3m in 2017; hedging the two sides of the canopy in 2015 at 1.4m from the tree trunk; T2 - mechanical pruning: topping the canopy parallel to the ground at 3.5m high in 2015 and 3.3m in 2017; hedging the two sides of the canopy in 2015 at 1.0m from the tree trunk; T3 - mechanical pruning + manual pruning complement: topping the canopy parallel to the ground at 3.5m high in 2015 and 3.3m in 2017; hedging the two sides of the canopy in 2015 at 1.0m from the tree trunk; manual pruning complement in 2015 to remove wood in the external faces of the canopy and in 2017 to remove wood suckers inside the canopy. Regarding the olive removal efficiency, significant differences were registered between years, but no significant differences were found among treatments in each year. 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/33011 Title: Effect of tree canopy and dolomitic limestone application on soil microorganisms and pasture quality in the Montado ecosystem Authors: Bailote, D.; Serrano, J.; Belo, Anabela; Rato, A.E; Ribeiro, J.; Brito, I. Abstract: The Montado, is an agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystem, explored in several extents. Its arboreal stratum is mainly composed by cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Q. rotundifolia) while the ground cover is formed by natural biodiverse pastures growing on poor soils and grazed by animals in an extensive regime. One of the major factors affecting the productivity of pastures in the Montado system is soil acidity (Serrano et al., 2020). The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of tree canopy and dolomitic limestone application for soil acidity correction on soil microbial biomass carbon, arbuscular mycorrhiza colonisation rate, pasture floristic diversity and quality in the Montado ecosystem. Soil and root samples were collected in an experimental field (4ha) located in Mitra Farm in February 2022.In April we monitored the floristic composition of the pasture and measured its quality through the qualification of crude protein (CP) and fiber (neutral detergent fiber- NDF) content. The results showed that there was a positive and significant effect of the canopy on microbial carbon biomass and mycorrhizal colonization, and also significant differences on mycorrhizal colonization related to soil pH amendments, particularly under the tree canopy. Despite the lack of significant differences in CP and NDF, the average values for both parameters were higher under the canopy. Considering CP it was higher in the amended area, while NDF was lower in the same area. These results allowed us to perceive the effect of organic matter deposition associated to the tree canopy and soil acidity correction as key factors for microbial development (Cardoso & Andreote, 2016; Rodrigues et al., 2015) and pasture floristic diversity and quality in the Montado system, providing important information regarding the holistic management of this ecosystem. 2022-09-30T23:00:00Z