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Benefits of Circular Agriculture for Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility in Oases

Author

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  • Mustapha El Janati

    (Department of Crop Production, Protection and Biotechnology, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat 10101, Morocco
    Unité Mixte de Recherche Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, 35000 Rennes, France)

  • Nouraya Akkal-Corfini

    (Unité Mixte de Recherche Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, 35000 Rennes, France)

  • Ahmed Bouaziz

    (Department of Crop Production, Protection and Biotechnology, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat 10101, Morocco)

  • Abdallah Oukarroum

    (AgroBioSciences Program, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Paul Robin

    (Unité Mixte de Recherche Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, 35000 Rennes, France)

  • Ahmed Sabri

    (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Errachidia 52000, Morocco)

  • Mohamed Chikhaoui

    (Department of Soil and Water Resource Management, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat 10101, Morocco)

  • Zahra Thomas

    (Unité Mixte de Recherche Sol Agro et Hydrosystème Spatialisation, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, 35000 Rennes, France)

Abstract

Circular agriculture is an effective approach for the management of soil organic inputs that improves soil fertility and cropping system sustainability. We developed a cropping system typology and assessed effects of crop rotation, organic fertilization, and crop residue management on soil fertility properties. Farmers in Drâa-Tafilalet oases in Morocco were surveyed, and soil was sampled and analyzed. In the most common cropping systems (Type I), date palms were associated with cereals, forages, and perennial crops. Type II cropping systems referred to a monocropped date palm of only one cultivar. In Type III, date palm was associated with other crops on part of the utilized agricultural area and monocropped on the other part. In all cropping systems, mean soil organic matter (SOM) content was less than 1.5% and the SOM:clay ratio was less than 12%, which increased the soil degradation risk. Livestock was combined with crops in Type I and III cropping systems and produced 19.4 and 24.2 t of manure per farm per year, respectively. Type I and II cropping systems produced annually 0.98 and 2.1 t.ha −1 of dry palms, respectively. Recycling these organic waste products remains a promising option that could produce organic inputs and offset the current lack of manure.

Suggested Citation

  • Mustapha El Janati & Nouraya Akkal-Corfini & Ahmed Bouaziz & Abdallah Oukarroum & Paul Robin & Ahmed Sabri & Mohamed Chikhaoui & Zahra Thomas, 2021. "Benefits of Circular Agriculture for Cropping Systems and Soil Fertility in Oases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4713-:d:541696
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    1. Mhammad Houssni & Jalal Kassout & Mohamed El Mahroussi & Soufian Chakkour & Mohamed Kadiri & Mohammed Ater & Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor, 2023. "Evaluation and Structuring of Agrodiversity in Oases Agroecosystems of Southern Morocco," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Francesco Piras & Yulian Pan & Antonio Santoro & Beatrice Fiore & Qingwen Min & Xuan Guo & Mauro Agnoletti, 2024. "Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Heritage Conservation and Valorization—A Comparative Analysis of the Chinese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and of the Italian Register of Historical Rural Land," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Lena Kalukuta Mahina & Elmostafa Gagou & Khadija Chakroune & Abdelkader Hakkou & Mondher El Jaziri & Touria Lamkami & Bruno Van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, 2025. "Turning Waste into Wealth: The Case of Date Palm Composting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.

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