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Effects of the European Union Agricultural and Environmental Policies in the Sustainability of Most Common Mediterranean Soils

Author

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  • José Manuel Rato Nunes

    (Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, LEAF, Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
    Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Av. 14 de janeiro 21, 7350 Elvas, Portugal)

  • António Bonito

    (Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Av. 14 de janeiro 21, 7350 Elvas, Portugal)

  • Luis Loures

    (Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Av. 14 de janeiro 21, 7350 Elvas, Portugal
    CIEO—Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal)

  • José Gama

    (Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Av. 14 de janeiro 21, 7350 Elvas, Portugal
    Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola (Facultad de Ciencias) and IACYS, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • Antonio López-Piñeiro

    (Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola (Facultad de Ciencias) and IACYS, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • David Peña

    (Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola (Facultad de Ciencias) and IACYS, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de Elvas s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • Ángel Albarrán

    (Área de Producción Vegetal (Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias) and IACYS, Universidad de Extremadura, Ctra. de Cáceres, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

Abstract

Agro-environmental measures promoted by the European Union focus mainly on environmental protection by maintaining sustainable levels of productivity that are adequate to the agro-ecological conditions of each region on different Member States. Among these European Union promoted measures the one known as “Extensive Forage Systems” is particularly relevant for the Mediterranean Region. In order to analyze the impact of this measure and to verify if the high expenditure of communitarian funds, with its implementation in Mediterranean soils, is aligned with the predicted benefits, a seven-year study in a southern Portugal region was conducted. In this regard, several soil chemical parameters such as organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, “available” phosphorus, “available” potassium and heavy metal levels (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni), were assessed, in 1329 different plots in order to represent some of the existing diversity of the Mediterranean environment, identified by the Portuguese Parcel Identification System, and considering the possibility to evaluate the evolution of these parameters on the main soil types of the region. The obtained results enabled us to verify that the application of the agro-environmental measure “Extensive Forage Systems” did not lead, during the 7 years of the study, to any significant change in terms of organic matter, soil pH and/or heavy metals content. Still it contributed for a small growth on “available” phosphorus and potassium levels and to a significant increase on Soil electrical conductivity (EC). As a final conclusion we can refer that the application of the agro-environmental measure “Extensive Forage Systems”, in soil, clime and cultural conditions prevailing in this study (Typical Mediterranean conditions from the South of Europe), did not reach its main objective, which was to increase the organic matter content in soils.

Suggested Citation

  • José Manuel Rato Nunes & António Bonito & Luis Loures & José Gama & Antonio López-Piñeiro & David Peña & Ángel Albarrán, 2017. "Effects of the European Union Agricultural and Environmental Policies in the Sustainability of Most Common Mediterranean Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1404-:d:107641
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johannes Lehmann & Markus Kleber, 2015. "The contentious nature of soil organic matter," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 60-68, December.
    2. José Rato Nunes & José Ramos-Miras & António Lopez-Piñeiro & Luís Loures & Carlos Gil & José Coelho & Ana Loures, 2014. "Concentrations of Available Heavy Metals in Mediterranean Agricultural Soils and their Relation with Some Soil Selected Properties: A Case Study in Typical Mediterranean Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-15, December.
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    2. Xianfeng Cheng & Jarmila Drozdova & Tomas Danek & Qianrui Huang & Wufu Qi & Shuran Yang & Liling Zou & Yungang Xiang & Xinliang Zhao, 2018. "Pollution Assessment of Trace Elements in Agricultural Soils around Copper Mining Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.

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