Plant cover, organic farming

As we already know, the traditional olive grove is a very important reserve of biodiversity, of all the flora and fauna that inhabit it.

It's planting season, which is why at Almazara Deortegas we have our hands in the earth, preparing the land for planting the winter cover crop.

What is a cover crop?

It consists of planting seeds that will cover the soil in the rows of our olive grove.

The main objective is to protect and improve soil health by taking advantage of the synergies derived from the simultaneous cultivation of more than one herbaceous species.

This year we are planting seeds of vetch, oats, and some peas, combining legumes and grasses and playing with the spontaneous native vegetation of the area.

This system performs a wide variety of vital ecological functions for the ecosystem, among which we would highlight:

- It improves the structure and quality of the soil, protecting it against erosion as it covers the soil's surface, preventing rain and direct sun; by allowing different herbaceous species with different root systems to coexist, we facilitate their penetration into the soil, aerating and opening pores that protect the soil against erosion.

- It provides greater water retention, improving its infiltration and utilization and acting as a barrier against runoff, reducing water evaporation under the cover during the hottest periods; thus, we improve the water balance of our soil.

- It improves the organic matter content in the soil by contributing all that plant mass.

- It maintains and promotes the biodiversity of the fauna and flora of the olive grove.

- It improves air quality. The larger the green area, the greater the oxygen production, helping to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide.

- And of course, it adds beauty to the olive grove.

Now, to wait for the rain and watch it grow...