Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping and polyethylene mulching on early growth of walnut (Juglans spp.) in central Italy

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Combined production of timber and forage species is considered to be a desirable land-use system to offset some of the current land management problems of Italy. This paper reports the early results of a study on intercropping young plants of walnut with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), with or without polyethylene mulching, in an experimental plantation in central Italy. Two genotypes of walnut were used:Juglans regia L. and the French hybrid NG23×RA. The seasonal changes of absolute and relative growth rates of walnut stem diameter and apical shoot length were investigated.

During both growing seasons, alfalfa intercropping strongly decreased walnut growth, whereas polyethylene mulching promoted stem height and diameter growth. Stem growth of intercropped-and-mulched walnut was the same as that of sole walnut under clean cultivation management. The use of polyethylene mulching reduced or avoided the competitive effect of associated alfalfa on walnut growth. During both growing seasons, the intercropped-and-mulched walnut had higher relative growth rates than intercropped-unmulched walnut. The results show the effectiveness of polyethylene mulching in promoting early growth of walnut, even when intercropped with alfalfa during early stages of plantation establishment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bonciarelli F (1987) Coltivazioni erbacee da pieno campo. Edagricole, Bologna, Italy, 347 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies RJ (1988) Sheet mulching as an aid to broadleaved tree establishment. I. The effectiveness of various synthetic sheets compared. Journal of Forestry 61:89–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan DB (1955) Multi Range and Multi F Tests. Biometrics 11:1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Frochot H and Levy G (1986) Efficacité d'un paillage de papier journal sur la croissance initiale di merisier (Prunus avium L.). Annales des Sciences Forestières 43: 263–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrett HE, Jones JE, Kurtz WB and Slusher JP (1991) Black walnut integrated forestry-farming —a case history. In: Gordon AM and Williams PA (eds). Proceedings of the First Conference on Agroforestry in North America, pp 15–27, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

  • Giardini L (1986) Agronomia generale. Patron Editore, Bologna, Italy, 597 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold MA and Hanover JW (1987) Agroforestry systems for the temperate zones. Agroforestry Systems 5:109–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt R (1982) Plant Growth Curves. University Park Press, Baltimore, MD, 248 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Liakatas A, Clark JA, Monteith JL (1986) Measurements of the heat balance under plastic mulches. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 36:227–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loreti F and Pisani PL (1986) Lavorazione del terreno negli alboreti. Rivista di Agronomia 20: 134–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariano A and Sperandio G (1994) Primi risultati di prove di pacciamatura in piantagioni forestali. Monti e Boschi 2:42–48

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald PM and Helgerson OT (1990) Mulches aid in regenerating California and Oregon forests: past, present and future, USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report PSW-123

  • Pini R, Benetti A and Vigna Guidi G (1994) Soil physical characteristics in an Italian walnut plantation under different cultural models. First General Meeting of Walnut E.C. Project AIR CT92 0142, Orleans, France, March 23–30, 1994

  • Paris P and Cannata F (1991) L'agroselvicoltura:una moderna realtà dei Paesi industrializzati e di quelli emergenti. Monti e Boschi 2: 21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrini P (1989) Erba medica (Medicago sativa L.). In: Baldoni R and Giardini L (eds) Coltivazioni erbacee, pp 859–892. Edagricole, Bologna, 1071 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Truax B and Gagnon D (1993) Effects of straw and black plastic mulching on the initial growth and nutrition of butternut, white ash and bur oak. Forest Ecology and Management 57: 17–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Sambeek JW, Ponder F Jr and Rietveld WJ (1986) Legumes Increase Growth and Alter Foliar Nutrient Levels of Black Walnut Saplings. Forest Ecology and Management 17: 159–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker RF and McLaughlin SB (1989) Black polyethylene mulch improves growth of plantation-grown loblolly pine and yellow-poplar. New Forests 3:265–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto per l'Agroselvicoltura, C.N.R., Villa Paolina, Viale G. Marconi, 2, 05010, Porano (TR), Italy

    P. Paris, F. Cannata & G. Olimpieri

Authors
  1. P. Paris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Cannata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Olimpieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paris, P., Cannata, F. & Olimpieri, G. Influence of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping and polyethylene mulching on early growth of walnut (Juglans spp.) in central Italy. Agroforest Syst 31, 169–180 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711724

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711724

Key words

Search

Navigation