Abstract
Improving environment quality leads to reduce amounts of pesticides in orchards. Herbicides are the main pesticides used in Martinique. A mechanical weed control is therefore necessary, but costly mainly on sloping lands where brush cutter use is the most effective. An alternative method to control weeds with low labour costs is to integrate animals and cover crop plants in the orchard. This integration may be hazardous and has to take into account the damages caused to the trees by the animals. We have chosen an integration of sheep grazing legumes and grass under trees of the Annonaceae family (Annona squamosal, A. reticulate, and A. muricata) because these fruiting trees do not present any appetence to sheep. This is an example of a method to increase the global productivity of land, adding fruit and meat production on a same area. In further studies, we will assess the improvement of durability of this new system, taking into account the reduced labour costs for controlling weeds, the better organic fertilization by sheep dejections, and the flora biodiversity enhancement. However, this system requires a specific skill: the producer must acquire experience on both animal husbandry and orchard management. (Resume d'auteur)
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
