Ground covers are sown or spontaneous plants that grow between olive trees and fulfil multiple beneficial functions for the olive grove ecosystem. Their use is a key strategy in sustainable agriculture, as they improve soil structure, enhance biodiversity and contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
Its main benefits include:
- Soil protection: they reduce erosion and compaction, preventing the loss of essential nutrients.
- Supply of organic matter: by decomposing, they enrich the soil and improve its fertility.
- Water regulation: they help to retain humidity, reducing evaporation and favouring the growth of the olive tree.
- Weed control: limit the proliferation of invasive species, reducing the need for manual or mechanical interventions.
- Promotion of biodiversity: they provide shelter and food for beneficial insects and micro-organisms essential for the balance of the ecosystem.
In an organic olive grove, where priority is given to an environmentally friendly production system, the use of cover crops becomes a fundamental tool.
The role of legumes in soil fertility
Leguminous plants, such as sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), clover (Trifolium spp.) or vetch (Vicia sativa), stand out among ground covers for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.
Thanks to their symbiosis with bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, the roots of these plants capture nitrogen from the air and convert it into a nutrient available to the olive trees. This natural process reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers and contributes to a more fertile and balanced soil.
In young olive trees, such as those of MARE OLEUM, this supply of nitrogen and organic matter is key to the development of the trees and their resistance to adverse climatic conditions.
Groundcovers: spontaneous or sown?
There are two ways of establishing green cover in an organic olive grove:
- Spontaneous groundcovers: grow naturally without the need for seeding. They are usually composed of a mixture of wild species adapted to the environment. Their main advantage is that they require less intervention, although they may include less beneficial plants or plants that tend to compete with olive trees.
- Sown plant cover: specific species, such as legumes or grasses, are chosen to optimise the benefits. This type of cover allows more precise control over the impact on the soil and on olive grove production.
At MARE OLEUM, we are committed to plant cover that favours biodiversity and contributes to the balance of the olive grove ecosystem.
Sustainability at the heart of the organic olive grove
The use of cover crops not only benefits olive trees, but is also a key strategy to reduce the ecological footprint of agriculture:
- They prevent erosion and desertification, a particularly serious problem on fragile soils.
- They reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers, minimising environmental impact.
- They contribute to carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate climate change.
In addition, when the rains end and water becomes scarce, the plant cover is mowed and left on the ground as a natural mulch. This prevents it from competing with the olive trees for the little moisture available and, at the same time, provides organic matter to the soil, improving its fertility and helping to conserve moisture.
At MARE OLEUM, every decision we make in the care of our olive groves responds to a commitment to sustainability and the quality of our EVOO.
If you would like to discover how we cultivate our olive groves and obtain a quality EVOO, we invite you to visit us.
Discover with us the balance between tradition, innovation and respect for nature – we are waiting for you!
