Fertilization with Olive Mill Pomace Compost Can Moderate Pest Damage in a Superintensive Olive Grove
González Zamora, José Enrique; Gamero Monge, José M.; Pérez de la Luz, Rosa
- Published
- 2024
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Language
- en
Abstract
Olive cultivation is a key agricultural activity in Spain, primarily for producing oil. The extraction process of olive oil from the drupe yields a by-product known as ‘alperujo’, which can be composted and utilized as fertilizer. This research examines the impact of composted ‘alperujo’ on arthropod assemblages in the tree canopy, comparing it to mineral fertilization over the years 2021 and 2022. The study was conducted in two olive groves with different management systems (superintensive and traditional). Two types of sampling methods were used for the canopy: visual survey and sweep net. Under superintensive management, the presence and damage of Eriophyidae (Acari; Trombidiformes) in the shoots was significantly lower in the compost treatment in 2022 (20% of the shoots were occupied/damaged) compared to the mineral treatment (60% of the shoots were occupied/damaged). Araneae abundance was significantly higher (p = 0.033) in the compost treatment compared to the mineral treatment. However, under traditional management, no clear effect on arthropod assemblage was observed. In conclusion, the addition of compost to the superin tensive grove helped to limit the presence of some arthropod pests compared to mineral treatment, contributing to a more sustainable crop. Grove type management appeared to play a significant role in the arthropod assemblages and effect of compost addition, but future research utilizing a greater number of groves (replicates) and an extended observation period should be performed to confirm these results.
Full text
Figure S1. Principal response curves (PRCs) of the most important arthropod taxa recuperated in the canopy with a sweep net sampling at the two olive groves (Superintensive and Traditional) in the two years of this study (2021 and 2022). The P values denote the significance of fertilizing treatment ‘Compost’, represented as a plotted line, relative to fertilizing treatment ‘Mineral’ on all dates based on an F−type permutation test. Arthropod taxa are shown on the right vertical axis with their weights, which have the same scale as canonical coefficients on the left vertical axis. b) Superintensive 2022 c) Traditional 2021 d) Traditional 2022 P=0.115 P=0.133 P=0.999 P=0.442 a) Superintensive 2021
Figure S2. Seasonal change of Euphyllura olivina nymph presence on shoots and flower buds depending of the fertilizing treatment in the two olive groves: Superintensive in a) 2021 and b) 2022, and Traditional in c) 2022. The graph of the traditional site in 2021 is not presented because sampling started later in the season (July), and no presence of nymphs was detected in the rest of the season. Each point represents the mean of observations per plot with the standard error (vertical bars). a) Superintensive 2021 b) Superintensive 2022 c) Traditional 2022 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-22 May-22 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-22 May-22 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Proportion of shoots occupied Compost Mineral
Figure S3. Seasonal change of Palpita unionalis plus Zelleria oleastrella presence on shoots depending of the fertilizing treatment in the two olive groves: Superintensive in a) 2021 and b) 2022, and Traditional in c) 2022. The graph of the traditional site in 2021 is not presented because sampling started later in the season (July) and very few data were recorded. Each point represents the mean of observations per plot with the standard error (vertical bars). a) Superintensive 2021 b) Superintensive 2022 c) Traditional 2022 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-22 May-22 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-22 May-22 Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Proportion of shoots occupied 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Proportion of shoots occupied Compost Mineral
