Abstract
Sweet chestnut is a relevant species in Europe for the production of timber and fruit, alongside environmental effects such as biodiversity of protection against soil erosion. In Portugal, chestnut is cultivated mainly for fruit production, in two areas, in the North and the South of the country, with moderate water deficit and low slope and at altitudes higher than 500 m. The current area (845 ha) of the southern so-called Marvão Protected Designation of Origin, of a fortyfold lower order of magnitude by comparison with the Northern productive area, has a significant expansion potential, given its similarity with contiguous areas in the same region. In this context, the main objective of the present work was the evaluation through geographic information analysis of that expansive potential, by comparison of physiographic profiling of the current production area with contiguous areas. A GIS-based characterization of current and potential chestnut areas in Marvão is presented. The methodology involved (i) digital profiling of the main classes/values of the geographical spatial ecological fingerprint considering topography, soil and microclimate variables in the areas currently occupied with sweet chestnut stands and (ii) the evaluation of the distribution of that environmental fingerprint in the whole Marvão productive area, for extending the cultivation to contiguous areas with a similar ecological fingerprint. An enlarged 9889 ha chestnut area was proposed, allocated for high forest stands aiming at agroforestry fruit production and coppiced stands for timber production and environmental protection, corresponding to 4590 ha and 5299 ha, respectively. Fruit production was proposed to field slopes of 0–4% and 4–8%, and altitudes between 400 m and 500 m. Presumable high-quality sites allocated to temporary dry/irrigated cultivations were also proposed for fruit production, in the same slope classes and altitudes higher than 500 m. Timber production and environmental protection were proposed for slopes within 8−12% and >12% ranges. This selection took into account the logistical feasibility facilitated in lower slopes for intensive mechanized management operations. This methodology permits a future field evaluation of site indexes, productivity, and correlations between environmental variables and stand biometry.
Highlights
The most relevant chestnut species in Europe amongst the thirteen species from the Castanea genus is Castanea sativa, M., commonly called sweet chestnut, a typical multipurpose species
The methodological strategy was, : (i) to characterize the prevailing classes or values of the geographical spatial ecological fingerprint considering variables linked to topography, soil and microclimate in the current chestnut area; and (ii) to evaluate the distribution of that environmental fingerprint in the entire Marvão productive area, for generalizing the possible cultivation with sweet chestnut to additional areas not occupied with the species, but exhibiting topography, soil and climate profiles similar to the current chestnut areas
The high representativeness of slopes higher than 12% in the current chestnut area, of around 66% of the total (Table 1), is indicative of a marginal relevance of aspect for cultivation, considering solar radiation as essentially abundant for tree growth and development
Summary
The most relevant chestnut species in Europe amongst the thirteen species from the Castanea genus is Castanea sativa, M., commonly called sweet chestnut, a typical multipurpose species. Sweet chestnut stands have been extensively managed in high forest and coppice agroforestry land covers aiming production of edible fruits and timber, under a context of encouraging expansion and regeneration of the species in Europe [1,2,3]. Experimental evidence points to the convenience of coppicing management in shortening the growing lifecycle. This topic shows potentially positive effects, e.g., in timber production and environmental agro-forestry, being implemented primarily in higher altitudes, aiming for soil and landscape conservation and biodiversity. For Central and Southern Europe, under the current context of climate change, chestnut is considered a potentially resilient tree species (e.g., [10,11]). The main agroecosystems services provided by chestnut AFS in European Mediterranean and Atlantic regions are food provision from fruit, biomaterials (wood and biomass), bioenergy, climate regulation and control of soil and vegetation erosion (e.g., [14])
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