Abstract
The oasis soils of Tunisia face several climatic and soil constraints. Trying to have cultures that are profitable and beneficial in terms of soil C and N sequestration in such environments is already a challenge. To conduct this, we tested under identical conditions four types of occupation in sub-plots adjacent to the crops; barley alone, alfalfa alone, intercropping barley/alfalfa, and a control fallow in a saline gypseous desert soil poor in organic matter. Field experimentation was carried out in the oasis of Degache, which is very representative of other Tunisian oases. The stocks of C and N of the plot were calculated from the start in September 2019 before the installation of the different crops. After 21 months, the control plot shows a decrease of −41% in its stock of C and −25% in its stock N. However, the best result is that of the barley/alfalfa intercropping with an increase of +126.46% in the C stock and +178.67% in the N stock. After almost two years of experience, the beneficial effect of the intercropping system in the oasis is clear. These results are very motivating and seem to be a solution to the rapid decline in soil organic stocks.
Highlights
The fertility and sustainability of many soil systems on our planet are under threat from a diverse range of stresses put upon them, from actors such as global environmental change and pollution, loss of organic matter, erosion, salinization, reduction of available water quantity, and quality
The best result is that of the barley/alfalfa intercropping with an increase of +126.46% in the C stock and +178.67% in the N stock
The objective of this paper is to study the effects of the different cultures encountered in of this paper is to study the effects of the different cultures encountered in the Tunisian the Tunisian oases, namely, fallow, varied rotations, and a new intercropping of alfalfa oases, namely, fallow, varied rotations, and a new intercropping of alfalfa with barley on (i) with barley on i) sequestration of C and N alfalfa nodules at the layer 0–20 cm, and ii) soil sequestration of C and N alfalfa nodules at the layer 0–20 cm, and (ii) soil C and N stocks
Summary
The fertility and sustainability of many soil systems on our planet are under threat from a diverse range of stresses put upon them, from actors such as global environmental change and pollution, loss of organic matter, erosion, salinization, reduction of available water quantity, and quality. Few places in the world experience more of these simultaneous stresses upon their natural soil ecosystems environment than the semi-arid and arid regions of the world. These regions cover 41% of the total global land area and host 37% of the world population. Even under normal conditions after 50 to 60 years, the supply of soil available P or K may be exhausted [1] Mismanagement of these semi-arid lands may already have led to further degradation (erosion, salinization) of the land, which may, be reverted
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