Improved Agricultural Management Systems for Soil Conservation in the Mediterranean

Abstract

Dryland areas represent almost 80% of the Mediterranean region and drought periods are becoming frequent. This desertification represents a myriad of challenges for soil conservation, water management, and biodiversity, affecting especially agricultural lands which impact the local food production. As a result, such areas are facing several threats, i.e., soil erosion, salinization, and poor water holding capacity among others. Due to loss of soil quality and general low water availability, farmers are prone to adapt strategies to endorse water conservation in soil and thus diminish the dependence for irrigated water. Additionally, other degradation processes (e.g., loss of organic matter) are also critical in these areas and contribute to an increasing loss of water in the soils. This chapter describes specific agricultural management practices that enhance soil quality and conservation, such as the conservation agriculture principles in the Mediterranean. Two agrosilvopastoral systems typical of the Mediterranean are described, the “Montado” and “Sown Biodiverse Pastures,” where specific strategies for soil and water conservation are present and improve the resilience to the current soil threats, promoting economic return and thus relevant as agricultural systems copping with the sustainable agriculture development. Due to the importance of water management and soil water conservation, specific soil conservation approaches that feature water retention in soil are described.