Mediterranean: Valorization of Mediterranean Almond orchards through the use of intercropping integrated strategies (VALMEDALM Project)

The VALMEDALM project is implementing the following set of actions:

1. Demo Sites to evaluate various factors that might affect the implementation and later success of intercropping practices;
2. Inventory of practices associated with intercropping for pest and weed management;
3. Creation of interaction channels and network strategies to promote knowledge transfer and collaborative work within local farmers and associations.
4. A study on an integrated strategy of the use of intercrops within almond orchards and the economic, social and environmental aspects and implemented across the Mediterranean basin.

Here is more information on each of the demo sites:

Portugal Demo

GPS Location:

1. Macedo de Cavaleiros (41°60’13.2’’N, 6°59’05.6’’W)
2. Macedo de Cavaleiros (41°36’16.4’’N, 6°58’18.9’’W)
3. Argozelo (41°38’11.1’N 6◦34’34.9’’W)

Demosite Area: 3 ha

Field Trials: 3

Almond cultivars:

1. Ferraduel, Ferragnès
2. Ferraduel, Ferragnès
3. Makako, Lauranne, Belona

Intercrop System: Inter-row

Crop system(s):

1. Non-irrigated almond orchard in full production
2. Irrigated almond orchard in full production
3. Newly planted irrigated almond orchard

Modality:

1. Covered with chickpeas (sowing in April/May)
2. Covered with short cycle clover (sowing in October)
3. Mobilized (Witness)

Italy Demo

GPS Location: Licata, Agrigento, C.da Volpara, 92027 (37°12’31.2″N 13°50’38.2″E)

Demosite Area: 7 ha

Field Trials: 1

Almond cultivars: Tuono

Intercrop System: Inter-row

Crop system (s): Irrigated 4-years old orchard

Modality: RCBD with 3 replications. Treatments: 1. Sulla (3 years); 2. Medicago spp. (3 years); 3. Soil tillage (control; 3 years). Sowing in October/November

Israel Demo

GPS Location: Model Farm for Sustainable Agriculture Newe Ya’ar Research Center (32.715148, 35.188401)

Demosite Area: 1.5 ha

Field Trials: 1

Almond cultivars: Matan

Intercrop System: Service crops between all rows. With/without service crops on the tree rows

Crop system (s): Irrigated almond orchard with servisse crops

Modality: 1. WITH service crops on tree row. 2. WITHOUT service crops on the tree row, crossed with: 1. Standard fertigation 2. Flexible fertigation (responding to field conditions)

Morocco Demo

GPS Location:

1. Azilal mountains (31°56’42 N, 6°35’50 W), 1400m above sea level
2. Aknoul (34°49’31 N, 03°42’34 W) 1000m above sea level
3. Ain Taoujdate (33°56’11 N, 5°09’32W) 550 m above sea level

Demosite Area: 12 ha

Field Trials: 3

Almond cultivars: Ferragnès, Ferraduel, Local genotypes (Beldi almond)

Intercrop System: Inter-row

Crop system (s):

1. Calcareous soil, Annual rainfall: 400 mm, Drip irrigation, Standard agricultural practices (fertilisation, protection…), Non-irrigated almond orchard in full production
2. Calcareous marl soil, Annual rainfall: 340 mm, Traditional practices, Non-irrigated almond orchard in full production
3. Clayey, calcareous and brown soil, Annual rainfall: 470 mm, Average of chill availability: 540 hours of temperature below 7°C., Drip irrigation., Standard agricultural practices (fertilisation, protection…), Newly planted irrigated almond orchard

Modality: Three treatments for each demo site:

1. Separated almond (without intercrop)
2. Separated Bean / broad bean crop (without almond)
3. Mixte: almond and intercrop

Croatia Demo

GPS Location: Selca-island Brač, (43°1656 N,16°4833E), 250m above sea level

Demosite Area: 1 ha

Field Trials: 1

Almond cultivars: Ferragnès, Ferraduel, Ai, Texas

Intercrop System: Inter-row

Crop system(s): Rocky soil with approximately 40% soil in the 60 cm soil depth, coupled with rock 1-5 cm diametre, Orchard planted in 2017, Drip irrigation system, Production organized as organic production

Modality: Intercrops planting in October or November. Four rows of almond trees, each row will have a row of intercrop on both sides. Intercropping will be done with the following plants: Artichoke, Imortela, Rosemary, and Salvia. Intercrop rows will have one or two rows of almond trees without intercrop plants that will function as controls.

At the end of the VALMEDALM project, we expect to achieve the following outcomes:

• Improve sustainable food production by the introduction of different intercropping systems that could increase the crops yields, contributing as extra income for small scale farmers by producing legumes, vegetables and aromatic plants; Increase farmer’s income, also including other possible agricultural-linked income sources and ensure transparency and fair pricing structure along the value chain;
• Promote access to work for young workers and women and create transfer of knowledge and technology between academia and farmers through the organization of demonstration sessions, trainings, and best practices guides;
• Enable access to markets, i.e., ensure access of local producers to distribution channels and markets, providing the general population with healthy and sustainable products;
• Improve sustainable food production systems with efficient use of water and natural resources and with eco-friendly processes with low GHG emissions; all the technical and economic data on intercropping practices in project demo sites  are being collected, analysed and exploitaion results will be shared;
• Reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses and potentially valorising the waste left.