This session invites contributions on soil processes, management practices, and ecosystem services in orchards and vineyards across diverse climatic zones. We welcome studies on:
- soil organic carbon, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity in perennial crop soils,
- management strategies such as cover crops, reduced tillage, mulching, or organic amendments,
- monitoring approaches including spectroscopy, isotopic methods, and remote sensing,
- modelling of soil–plant–climate interactions and scenario analysis for sustainable management,
- frameworks and composite indicators for assessing ecosystem services, trade-offs, and synergies.
We particularly encourage integrative contributions that bridge experimentation, monitoring, modelling, and stakeholder perspectives. By gathering case studies and methodologies across regions and disciplines, this session aims to foster a holistic understanding of how to sustain soil functions in perennial cropping systems under evolving environmental and societal demands.
Orals: Fri, 8 May, 16:15–17:20 | Room -2.31
Accurate measurements of biomass production and carbon storage in olive groves are needed to improve crop management and evaluate their role in mitigating climate change impacts. Two approaches, destructive and non-destructive, were set up to estimate aboveground and belowground biomass, as well as carbon content, in a total of six 7.5-year-old trees of two olive cultivars, Arbosana and Picual, grown under Mediterranean field conditions. This was complemented by determining soil organic carbon storage at the root system depth (1.30 m). The findings indicated that Picual produced higher total biomass (36.5 kg tree-1) compared to Arbosana (27.5 kg tree-1), largely because Picual accumulated more biomass in structural elements, such as the trunk and secondary branches. In contrast, Arbosana allocated more biomass to the foliage. In both cultivars, roughly 60 % of root biomass was located within the first 25 cm of soil, and more than 55 % was concentrated in the root ball. In both cultivars, the average carbon concentration in biomass was 47 % in aboveground plant parts and 42 % in the root system. At the orchard level, the soil acted as the primary organic carbon reservoir, containing about 76 t C ha⁻¹, while the total tree biomass stored around 13-16 t C ha⁻¹, with 4.1-5 t C ha⁻¹ stored in the root biomass. The mean annual carbon accumulation in olive biomass ranged from 1.68 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for Arbosana to 2.16 t C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for Picual, values consistent with carbon sequestration rates reported for other Mediterranean agricultural systems. While the destructive methodology provided more accurate differentiation between cultivars in terms of biomass and carbon content, the non-destructive method proved more practical and suitable for larger-scale implementation, albeit with a moderate reduction in accuracy. Overall, these results support the integration of biomass and carbon data into olive cultivar selection and management practices, with the aim of enhancing carbon sequestration and promoting the long-term sustainability of olive production systems.
Acknowledgement: This work has been supported by the projects MARVIC “Monitoring, reporting and verification of soil carbon and greenhouse gases balance” (101112942), ECOMED "Improving soil cover assessment strategies in Mediterranean agricultural areas” (PR. AVA23.INV202301.035), Operational Group “Olive Carbon Balance” (OCB) from EIP-Agri (REGAGE23e00065250685), Qualifica Project QUAL21_023 IAS, PID2023-146177OB-C21 and PID2023-146177OB-C22 projects funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE, and “ERDF A way of making Europe” by “ERDF/EU”
How to cite: Torrús Castillo, M., Guzmán, G., Cárceles, B., Soriano, M. A., de la Rosa, R., and Gómez, J. A.: Biomass and carbon allocation in above and belowground parts of two olive cultivars at high-density, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1080, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1080, 2026.
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is critical for soil health and climate change mitigation. In Mediterranean orchards and vineyards, management practices vary both within fields (e.g., grass cover vs. bare soil in inter-rows) and between fields (e.g. drip vs. microsprinkler irrigation) creating complex spatial patterns. Yet, most modelling approaches assume plot homogeneity when simulating carbon and water budgets at field scale. Furthermore, existing studies often sample inter-rows alone, assuming they represent whole-field dynamics. This homogeneity assumption may introduce biases in SOC stock estimates for perennial systems, at the field level, by ignoring row vs. inter-row management differences.
This study aims to (1) quantify intra-field variability in SOC content and soil biology abundance and activity between tree rows and inter-rows, and (2) assess how this spatial heterogeneity affects model predictions at field scale.
Field data were collected in 2024 and 2025 from 19 plots in a small Mediterranean watershed in southeastern France, including vineyards and orchards with various agricultural practices and soil characteristics. Soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were analyzed for chemical (SOC, nutrients, pH), physical properties (texture) and microbial biomass, to compare row and inter-row dynamics. In 2025, earthworm and enchytraeid communities were sampled. Additionally, farmer interviews were conducted to document on history of the fields (fertilizer inputs, irrigation, soils). A multivariate analysis (PCA) identified key drivers of row/inter-row differences, with preliminary results indicating significant variability in SOC and soil biology (earthworms, enchytraeids, microbial biomasses) linked to grass cover management (p < 0.01). Linear modelling was developed to upscale inter-row measurements to whole-field estimates. These findings inform management strategies that enhance SOC sequestration while optimizing productivity and biodiversity in Mediterranean perennial systems.
How to cite: Charrière, S., Bérard, A., Pelosi, C., Doussan, C., Flamain, F., Chapelet, A., and Courault, D.: Row and inter-row management drives spatial variability in SOC and soil fauna in Mediterranean orchards and vineyards, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5742, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5742, 2026.
A transition to sustainable agriculture requires robust metrics that can capture environmental burdens and the beneficial ecosystem services (ES) provided by land management. Although traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) is effective at quantifying detrimental impacts, it often fails to consider the regenerative potential of agroecological practices. This study proposes an innovative framework that incorporates ES accounting into organizational LCA (O-LCA) to evaluate absolute environmental sustainability (AES) in the Tuscan wine industry. This research uses Techno-Ecological Synergy (TES-LCA) principles which quantify the balance between the ecological supply of and technological demand for critical ES, including carbon sequestration and nutrient loss regulation, by the means of sustainbility metrics (V), which range from -1 to 1. A positive value means the system can provide mitigation for additional demand, while a negative value means there is no supply of ES.
The methodology uses empirical evidence from soil analyses conducted fourteen years apart, coupled with simplified ecological models. This approach addresses the data-intensive nature of traditional ecological modeling by using readily available farm data. Results from two representative grapevines case studies reveal divergent environmental performances. In the first farm, V ranging from -1.0 to -0.9 indicate a "worst-case" scenario where technological demand significantly outweighs ecological supply. Conversely, the second farm demonstrates the potential of agroecological management, qualifying as an "island of sustainability" for carbon sequestration (V = 1.0) and nitrogen loss regulation (V = 0.5). Notably, both farms exhibited a low phosphorus loss mitigation (V = -0.9), highlighting a systemic challenge in nutrient management. By bridging the gap between technological systems and natural processes, this research offers a robust tool for aligning agricultural production with planetary boundaries and ecological limits.
RN and GC thank the Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4 – D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022).While BR acknowledge the support of NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Centre) funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, P.N.R.R., Missione 4 Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa”, Investimento 1.4, Project CN00000033. . This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for.
How to cite: Renzi, N., Rugani, B., Nuñez, M., Penna, D., Bresci, E., and Castelli, G.: Integrating Ecosystem Services into Organizational Life Cycle Assessment: Evaluating the Impact of Agroecological Practices on Grapevine Soil Health, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9432, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9432, 2026.
Viticulture in England has expanded rapidly over the last two decades, driven by climate change and the adoption of commercially viable grape varieties suited to sparkling wine production.
This study examined, over two years, the establishment and performance of cover crops and under-vine weed management strategies in two commercial vineyards and one experimental vineyard in the South East of England, representing contrasting soil types. A range of cover crops were established between March 2022 and October 2024, including phacelia, common vetch, faba bean, a perennial mix of berseem, crimson and white clovers with creeping red fescue, and an annual mix of rye and common vetch. In parallel, under-vine weed management practices were evaluated, including herbicide application, mechanical control, and strimming.
Soil assessments included nutrient content, microbial biomass, soil organic matter, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, soil moisture, soil respiration, and soil microbial community composition (16S rRNA and ITS sequencing). Vine performance was evaluated through measurements of leaf nutrient content, chlorophyll index, canopy area index, grape yield, and juice quality.
Soil organic matter did not differ between cover crop treatments and the control (grass cover). Microbial biomass increased under faba bean at the clayey site in 2023; however, no significant differences among treatments or sites were observed in 2024. As expected, available nitrogen levels were consistently higher in the faba bean treatment across all three sites in both years, although these differences were only statistically significant in 2023.
Regarding soil physical properties, bulk density tended to be higher under faba bean compared with the control, whereas no significant differences were observed in hydraulic conductivity. Soil moisture content was generally lower in the cover crop treatments than in the grass-covered control.
In 2023, grapes from vines adjacent to faba bean cover crops at the clayey site showed significantly higher yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN), malic acid, and ammonium-N compared with the grass control. However, these differences were not observed in the following season.
Weeding management influenced soil physical properties and vine performance, with higher soil bulk density and greater vine vigour under herbicide control.
Overall, groundcover management has the potential to influence soil health and vine responses, but the effects observed in this study were not conclusive over the short term. Soil type, seasonal conditions, and the longevity of both treatments and vines are likely key factors regulating the impacts of groundcover management in vineyards.
How to cite: Paradelo Perez, M., Buchi, L., and O'Brien, F.: Groundcover management effects on soil properties and vine performance in English vineyards, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14437, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14437, 2026.
Perennial crops such as orchards and vineyards are typical mediterranean crops which present a high variability in water and inter-row management, both having strong impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) fate. The different irrigation options are drippers, micro-sprinklers or flood irrigation. The inter-rows can be grassed to facilitate the pruning, harvest or various operations in the crops, or soil can be ploughed to avoid water competition with trees. Assessing SOC variability at territorial scales is a real challenge to promote practices that will increase SOC storage and therefore alleviate climate change and improve the soil health. This study aims to assess (i) the intra-field variability of SOC in orchards and vineyards with various inter-row and irrigation practices from lab spectral measurements, and (ii) the spatial variability of SOC at the watershed scale according to different agricultural practices using Sentinel data. Soil samples were collected over a two-year period in 2024 and 2025 on 17 plots covering a large variability of irrigation and inter-row management in a small watershed in southeastern France (Ouvèze-Ventoux WS). Physical chemical analyses were made on air-dried, 2mmn sieved soil samples. Spectral measurements were made using a lab spectrometer (SM-3500) in the range of visible near-infrared to mid-infrared (350-2500 nm). Sentinel 1 and 2 images acquired over the Ouveze-Ventoux WS were selected in winter period for the two studied years, when NDVI presented the lowest values. Three methods were compared to estimate SOC variability: PSLR, DNN and cubist. The results from lab spectrometer measurements showed a high accuracy to obtain SOC (R2=0.89, correlation between observed and simulated SOC) allowing to quantify the impact of row management on the SOC variability. This accuracy decreased if only Sentinel data are used (as expected) but the correlations between observations and simulations remained significant. The cubist model appeared the most effective to map SOC at the watershed scale Such approaches based on spectral measurements performed at different scales represent inexpensive and useful tools to assess the spatial variability of the soil properties which can be applied in various environmental contexts.
How to cite: Courault, D., Charrière, S., Bérard, A., Pelosi, C., Flamain, F., Pouget, G., Chapelet, A., Zhao, X., and Doussan, C.: Impact of various horticultural farming practices on the spatial variability of Soil Organic Carbon in a small Mediterranean watershed using spectrometric measurements and Sentinel data., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5672, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5672, 2026.
Soil and water conservation is a critical challenge for agricultural systems in Spain. Mediterranean environments are characterized by semiarid conditions, where water scarcity, high evapotranspiration, and irregular rainfall constrain crop productivity and ecosystem sustainability. Soils typically exhibit low organic matter content, structural vulnerability, and a high susceptibility to degradation processes, including erosion, compaction, and reductions in water-holding capacity. Perennial woody crops such as vineyards and olive groves dominate large areas of central Spain and are frequently managed under conditions that intensify soil exposure, particularly through tillage and limited vegetation cover. Under these circumstances, the capacity of soils to retain and supply plant-available water becomes a key determinant of agronomic resilience and long-term soil functioning. Improving soil available water through management therefore requires a mechanistic understanding of how intrinsic soil properties interact with modifiable factors across contrasting edaphic contexts.
The relative importance of soil organic matter (SOM) and clay content in controlling variability in soil available water (AW) is central to understanding soil water retention mechanisms. Both constituents contribute to water storage but operate within strong site-specific constraints and are differentially influenced by management. In this study, the variability of volumetric available water (% vol) was analyzed as the dependent variable in vineyard and olive grove soils under semiarid conditions in central Spain. A linear model was applied including SOM, total clay content, above-ground biomass, management system, site, and their interactions. Univariate tests of significance were used to quantify the independent contribution of each factor while accounting for covariance among variables.
The model explained a large proportion of AW variability (adjusted R² = 0.7; p < 0.05), indicating strong overall performance despite the inherent heterogeneity of Mediterranean soils. Site emerged as the dominant source of variability (p < 0.05), reflecting the influence of inherent soil properties and pedogenic controls. Within this context, SOM, explained a significant proportion of AW variability independent of clay content (p = 0.05), highlighting its role as the main modifiable edaphic factor affecting soil water availability. Clay content exerted a weaker but still significant effect, consistent with its structural control on water retention. Management effects were strongly site dependent, as indicated by a significant management × site interaction (p < 0.05), whereas management alone was not significant, underscoring the absence of uniform management responses across sites. Above-ground biomass did not explain additional variability once soil properties were accounted for, suggesting limited relevance for explaining AW at the 0–30 cm depth considered.
Overall, these results indicate that SOM plays a key role in enhancing soil water availability beyond textural effects, but always within a framework dominated by site-specific soil conditions. This provides a robust basis for further analyses addressing the role of clay mineralogy and soil–organic matter interactions in controlling water retention in Mediterranean perennial cropping systems.
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the European Joint Programme for SOIL (EJP SOIL), funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme (Grant Agreement No. 862695), within the SANCHOTHIRST project. J. González Canales was supported by grant PRE2021-097966 (MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and the European Social Fund (ESF). We thank the farmers for field access and management information.
How to cite: Herranz-Luque, J. E., Zayani, H., Ruiz-Sánchez, C., Fouad, Y., Michot, D., Vaudour, E., Gonzalez-Canales, J., Martín Sanz, J. P., Sastre, B. E., and Marques Perez, M. J.: Site dominance and the role of soil organic matter and clays in controlling plant-available water in Mediterranean perennial cropping systems, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20713, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20713, 2026.
Posters on site: Thu, 7 May, 10:45–12:30 | Hall X3
Building up Soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential, for ensuring agricultural viability and mitigating global climate change. Increasing SOC stocks is recognized as a key strategy for mitigating climate change and contributing to soil health and overall ecosystem resilience. Perennial cropping systems, such as vineyards, have received increasing attention for their potential to sequester SOC. Compared to annual crops, vines may contribute to SOC accumulation through their permanent root systems, extensive biomass production, and long-term organic matter inputs to the soil. Vineyard soils, however, are subject to diverse management practices that can either promote or deplete SOC stocks. At either end of the spectrum, we have, for example, permanent plant cover between the rows and ploughing to eliminate all grass, considered a competitor for access to water. However, the effect of these practices on SOC turnover and stabilization remains poorly understood.
Here we show how spontaneous vegetation cover and tillage fundamentally alter soil carbon storage, using δ13C and Δ14C isotopic tracers. Soil samples were collected from a dozen of paired vineyard sites in Spain, differing solely in their soil management practices (very close from each other) with soil covered with spontaneous vegetation or repeated tillage. The samples were collected to a depth of 90 cm, with 5 cm interval down to 20 cm, and then 10 cm intervals thereafter. The content of C and N content, as well as δ13C, reveal clear contrasts in carbon sources and depth dependent incorporation, while Δ14C demonstrates distinct differences in carbon turnover rates and stabilization pathways between management systems.
Our results show that vineyards maintening spontenous vegetation accumulate younger, plant-derived carbon in surface horizons while also enhancing of older carbon at depth, whereas tilled soils exhibit depleted SOC stocks and accelerated carbon turnover throughout the profile. . These findings highlight the pivotal role of allowing natural vegetation to persist, combined with reduced soil disturbance, in fostering persistent SOC pools, thereby strengthening soil resilience under climate change.
Keywords: Soil carbon storage, vineyard soil management, δ13C, Δ14C, plant cover, tillage
Acknowledgments This work is supported by SANCHOSTHIRST project (EJP-SOIL grant agreement N°862695/II/4/SANCHOSTHIRST/2024).
How to cite: Ejaz, M., Piotrowska, N., Ustrzycka, A., Pawelczyk, S., Herranz-Luque, J. E., Jiménez-González, M. A., García-Delgado, C., Carral, P., Marqués Pérez, M. J., and Hatté, C.: ASSESSING VINEYARDS SOIL CARBON STORAGE: δ13C AND Δ14C AS INDICATORS UNDER COVER CROPS AND TILLAGE , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1825, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1825, 2026.
Visible–near infrared–shortwave infrared (VIS–NIR–SWIR, 350–2500 nm) soil reflectance spectroscopy provides a rapid and non-destructive approach for characterizing soil properties, yet the relative contribution of spectral integration metrics, preprocessing strategies, and diagnostic wavelength regions remains an active area of research. In this study, a dataset of 220 soil samples from 30 agricultural sites representing contrasting pedological conditions was analyzed using laboratory reflectance spectra acquired over the full 350–2500 nm range. In addition to point reflectance values, two cumulative reflectance variables were computed: a visible cumulative reflectance (VCR, 350–780 nm) and a full-spectrum cumulative reflectance (CR, 350–2500 nm), designed to capture integrated spectral behavior related to soil color and overall albedo. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed to predict soil organic matter determined by wet oxidation (SOM), and the influence of spectral range and preprocessing was systematically evaluated.
In particular, VCR emerged as a particularly meaningful descriptor of soil optical behavior, functioning analogously to an integrated soil color or saturation metric and revealing distinct linear trends associated with different soil groups.
The PLSR models based on the full VIS–NIR–SWIR range consistently outperformed those restricted to the visible domain. The most robust and parsimonious configuration used original reflectance data subjected to mean centering, standard normal variate correction, and detrending. Under this configuration, SOM was predicted with coefficients of determination of approximately R² ≈ 0.58–0.61 and RMSE values near 0.8, using 6–7 latent variables. More aggressive preprocessing strategies, including second derivatives and extensive Savitzky–Golay smoothing, produced only marginal improvements while increasing the spurious effects of noise or reducing interpretability, and were therefore deemed unnecessary.
The Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) trace revealed that SOM prediction was primarily controlled by a limited number of SWIR absorption regions centered near 552, 1414, 1918–2008, 2140, and 2201–2216 nm, consistent with absorptions associated with organic matter and clay minerals—mainly montmorillonites and kaolinite—with comparatively lower influence from calcite and oxides.
Overall, the results demonstrate that VIS–NIR–SWIR spectroscopy up to 2500 nm enables a physically interpretable estimation of soil organic matter with predictive performance across very different soil types.However, the results also show that SOM prediction remains highly significant when PLSR models are built exclusively from visible-range data (380–780 nm). The findings highlight the utility of cumulative reflectance metrics and the importance of prioritizing model robustness and spectral interpretability over excessive spectral manipulation, supporting the application of full-range soil spectroscopy for soil characterization and mapping at larger scales.
Acknowledgements, this research was funded by EJP-SOIL grant agreement 862695. Javier González Canales received funding through grant PRE2021-097966 from MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Social Fund (ESF, Investing in Your Future)
How to cite: Carral, P., Herranz-Luque, J. E., Almendros, G., Zayani, H., Fouad, Y., Michot, D., Vaudour, E., Baghdadi, N., Gonzalez-Canales, J., mart, J. P., Sastre, B. E., and Marques, M. J.: Assessment of Reflectance Metrics and PLSR Modeling for Soil Organic Matter Prediction Using VIS–NIR–SWIR Spectra, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21912, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21912, 2026.
In this study, we investigate the combined use of Sr-isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and multielemental composition to assess the geographical traceability of wines from the Ribera del Duero Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO), located along the Duero River basin on the northern Iberian Plateau. In 2025, this PDO produced around 1 million hL of high quality internationally recognized wines. The region exhibits a marked geological gradient over ~120 km, transitioning from eastern domains dominated by clay, sand, and lacustrine limestones to western sectors characterized by extensive limestone formations. Several wine samples from different wineries and representative grape varieties from Ribera del Duero were analyzed. Major and selected trace elements were determined by ICP-OES and ICP-MS, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios were measured using MC-ICP-MS. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), were applied to evaluate the discriminating power of the combined geochemical dataset.
The results show that ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range between 0.7090 and 0.7097, reflecting the regional geological background but providing limited resolution when considered alone. In contrast, the integration of Sr-isotope data with elemental composition significantly improves the differentiation of wine samples according to their geographical origin. Multivariate models reveal coherent groupings that correspond to geological variability within the PDO area.
Keywords: Strontium isotope ratios, elemental composition, wine, geochemical tracer, ICP-MS
How to cite: Jimenez - Barredo, F., Naharro, D., Hasozbek, A., de la Hoz, A., Díaz de Cerio, E., and Vega, M.: Geochemical characterization of Ribera de Duero wines: Integrating 87Sr/86Sr and elemental profiling for origin assessment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15119, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15119, 2026.
Vineyards in Mediterranean and sub‑Alpine landscapes are sensitive systems, where water erosion directly threatens many essential soil functions. This is particularly critical in UNESCO‑listed vineyard regions, where long‑term soil sustainability underpins both agricultural productivity and cultural heritage preservation. We present VineRUGIS, a standardized, open‑source procedure designed to assess water erosion risk in vineyards through climatic, soil, topographic and remote‑sensing data. It aims to a reliable erosion risk appraisal in vineyard areas using only freely available information (e.g., Panagos et al., 2015; Regione Piemonte, 2025) or tools (e.g. Biddoccu et al., 2020), including an appraisal of uncertainty. This might help to reduce uncertainty on the actual role of vine cultivation on soil degradation (e.g. Pappalardo et al., 2019).
VineRUGIS is based on an enhanced implementation of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) within a QGIS environment using the ORUSCAL tool (Biddoccu et al., 2020), developed to run RUSLE in woody crops. It is an evolution of an approach successfully implemented in olive growing areas in Southern Spain (Gómez et al., 2023) and pays particular attention to the spatially explicit parameterization of key parameters like topography, soil erodibility, vegetation cover and conservation practices. VineRUGIS maps these factors at vineyard‑plot scale by integrating Sentinel‑2 NDVI time series, high‑resolution digital elevation models and regional soil databases, allowing a realistic representation of soil–management interactions.
The methodology was applied to the Monferrato vineyard region (Piemonte, Italy), an UNESCO World Heritage landscape characterized by complex relief and long‑term viticultural use. A first regional appraisal assuming temporary cover‑crop management indicates that most vineyard experience low to moderate average erosion rates, despite relatively high slope gradients. This highlights the dominant buffering role of vegetation cover and the need to check presence, or not, of traditional soil conservation practices, such as terracing, in maintaining erosion rates close to soil formation thresholds. This communication will present the results of our analysis and discuss the usefulness of VineRUGIS as a soil‑oriented, reproducible and transferable procedure to support erosion risk assessment, soil function protection and adaptive management in vulnerable vineyard soil systems under increasing climatic variability.
References
1- Biddoccu et al., 2020. Evaluation of soil erosion risk and identification of soil cover and management factor (C) for RUSLE in European vineyards with different soil management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2020.07.003
2- Gómez et al., 2023. Evaluation of erosion risk with stakeholders using RUSLE methodology and publicly available information in a large olive producing area in Southern Spain. Abstracts of Soil Erosion Research under a Changing Climate Symposium by ASABE. Aguadilla, Pto. Rico.
3- Panagos et al., 2015. Rainfall erosivity in Europe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.00
4- Pappalardo et al., 2019. Estimation of potential soil erosion in the Prosecco DOCG area (NE Italy), toward a soil footprint of bottled sparkling wine production in different land management scenarios. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210922
5- Regione Piemonte. 2025. Geopiemonte. https://geoportale.igr.piemonte.it/cms/
Acknowledgements: Support from PID2023-146177OB-C21 and C22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by “ERDF/EU”; Fondazione CRT - project “MeRAViP” (2022.1732); CNR Short Term Mobility Program – 2025 (STM 2025).
How to cite: Gomez, J. A., Guzmán Díaz, G., Pedraza Moya, S., and Biddoccu, M.: A standardized GIS‑based assessment of water erosion risk in UNESCO vineyard landscapes: insights from the Monferrato soil system (Piemonte, NW Italy), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7224, 2026.
Agricultural soils in Mediterranean semi-arid regions are increasingly affected by climatic variability, challenging the sustainability of perennial systems such as vineyards and olive groves. Conventional tillage promotes organic matter oxidation and limits carbon persistence, whereas the capacity of cover cropping to enhance carbon sequestration beyond surface accumulation remains uncertain, largely due to strong site-specific responses and intrinsic soil constraint
This study investigates the mechanisms controlling soil carbon stabilization at six paired vineyard and olive grove sites in central Spain under semi-arid conditions, comparing conventional tillage and cover-cropped systems. Soil samples were collected at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths and analyzed for total soil organic carbon (SOC), water-extractable organic matter (WEOM), WEOM optical properties (E4/E6), texture, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), porosity, and β-glucosidase activity. Depth gradients (30–10 cm) were calculated to explicitly focus on vertical processes, and carbon stabilization was assessed using the SOC/clay ratio as an indicator of mineral-associated organic carbon.
Across sites, all variables exhibited substantial variability. SOC contents were typical of Mediterranean agricultural soils, ranging from approximately 0.77–0.84% in the topsoil and from 0.51–0.64% at 10–30 cm depth, while SOC/clay ratios declined from 0.09–0.10 in the surface layer to 0.04–0.06 at depth. These values indicate a moderate but constrained potential for mineral-associated carbon stabilization, with management-related differences being modest and largely confined to surface horizons. WEOM concentrations ranged from approximately 15 to 21 mg L⁻¹, with slightly higher values under cover cropping at 0–10 cm, whereas differences at 10–30 cm were less pronounced. Textural composition was dominated by relatively high sand contents but showed strong site-to-site heterogeneity, reflecting contrasting edaphic contexts. WEOM E4/E6 ratios averaged 3.3–3.5 under cover cropping and 4.1–4.8 under tillage, although large variability resulted in substantial overlap between managements.
Linear models revealed that the vertical WEOM gradient (30–10 cm) was the most consistent predictor of increases in SOC/clay at depth, highlighting the importance of dissolved carbon transfer for subsurface carbon stabilization. Mean CaCO₃ content exerted a positive effect, indicating a strong mineralogical control on carbon retention. In contrast, β-glucosidase activity and WEOM-E4/E6 did not emerge as significant predictors.
Acknowledgements:
This work was supported by the European Joint Programme for SOIL (EJP SOIL), funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme (Grant Agreement No. 862695), within the SANCHOTHIRST project. J. González Canales was supported by grant PRE2021-097966 (MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and the European Social Fund (ESF). We thank the farmers for field access and management information.
How to cite: Marqués Pérez, M. J., Jiménez-González, M. A., Martín-Sanz, J. P., González-Canales, J., Carral, P., Almendros, G., and Sastre, B. E.: Patterns of water-extractable organic matter across management and depth in Mediterranean perennial cropping systems, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7518, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7518, 2026.
The Altes Land region in Northern Germany is the largest fruit-producing region in Germany. Here, on diked and drained freshwater tidal marsh soils of the Elbe River valley, century-old farming traditions combined with modern production methods developed into numerous different land management strategies. Soil health indicator values (e.g., bulk density, soil organic carbon quantity) display spatial and temporal variability on both field and farm scales. Assessing changes of soil health indicators remains labour-intensive, and long-term datasets usually do not sufficiently reflect small-scale heterogeneity. Attempts of monetizing soil health improvements (e.g. by carbon credits, fiscal rewards for biodiversity) require a thorough and site-specific understanding of soil health indicator development over time.
Separating short-term management-induced changes and long-term trends of perennially caused changes of soil health (e.g. carbon accumulation, soil-structure formation) involve costly long-term monitoring, but cheaper sampling snapshots might overlook long-term effects of innovative approaches of farming methods on soil health. Overcoming budgetary hurdles, we aim to achieve long-term soil health monitoring cooperation with local fruit-farmers as co-scientists. Such a transparent and transdisciplinary joint-ownership monitoring approach potentially increases acceptance of required adaptation measures and allows for reliable, robust, long-term assessment of soil health situations. For this, we initialized a soil data exchange network with interested local fruit-farmers.
While still in the warm-up phase, we already investigated the effect of tree-planting age on selected soil health indicators, namely bulk density, total organic carbon content, and CN ratio at two differently managed apple orchards (O1 and O2) in the Northern-German Altes Land. To overcome the lack of long-term observational data, a space-for-time sampling approach was designed. The sampling design was developed in accordance with farm managers and carbon-cycling modellers. Orchard parcels were selected that represent the same management method but different tree-planting ages, assuming an accumulation of perennial management effects on soil development over time. Trees were grouped into tree-planting age categories 1 year, 10-12 years, and 20-22 years.
All three soil properties show age-dependent trends and variability across time (tree age) and space (management type). Bulk density is significantly different between planting ages 1, 10-12, and 20-22 years on O1 (Medians in g cm-3 of 1.41, 1.26, and 0.98, respectively), but not significant on O2 (Medians in g cm-3 of 1.29, 1.12, and 1.04, respectively). Differences in loss-on-ignition is not significant on O1 (Medians in percentages of 6.2, 7.7, and 8.1, respectively) but significant on O2 (Medians in percentages of 6.6, 6.9, and 9.0, respectively). Total organic carbon is significantly different between tree-planting ages on O1 and O2 (Medians in percentages 2.3, 3.4, and 3.5, respectively in O1, and 2.9*), 3.2, and 4.1, respectively in O2); calculated with Kruskal-Wallis test, n=9 (*) n=8), p<0.05.
Our first results make a strong case for site-specific long-term soil monitoring that considers temporal and spatial land-management variability. Take home message: a careful consideration of temporal and spatial management variations, as well as social and community-related aspects of land management, is advisable for soil health assessment studies in orchards.
How to cite: Rüggen, N. and Kutzbach, L.: Spatial and temporal variability of soil health indicators in Northern German apple orchard soils. A space-for-time approach. , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18733, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18733, 2026.
Soil rock fragments (SRF) strongly influence soil properties, nutrient contents and erosion. Their surface cover (SRF cover) affects soil reflectance which can impacts the accuracy of remotely sensed predictions of soil properties, yet it is rarely quantified. In this study, we assess the ability of Sentinel-2 (S2) indices to capture variability in SRF cover and their potential to enhance SRF cover predictions with S2 spectral models. SRF cover (%) was measured across three field campaigns et 60 points in an 82 ha Spanish vineyard trained on a trellis system. The point-count method applied to nadir photographs taken ~1 m above the soil was used. Six S2 indices time series were analysed using a hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) then a principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the index best capturing SRF cover variability. Its relevance was assessed by comparing its values with the average SRF cover measured across the three campaigns. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and random forest (RF) models were then developed using individuals and combined S2 dates, both with and without and NDVI threshold of 0.4, considering either S2 spectral bands or in combination with best S2 indices. The Non-Photosynthetic Vegetation Soil Separation Index (NSSI) best captured SRF cover variability, showing a negative correlation with SRF cover (R² = 0.41–0.60) and the strongest correlation for NDVI < 0.4 (R² = 0.48–0.91). Most models achieved moderate to good performance, with PLSR outperforming RF. Combining S2 dates improved model stability and performance for both PLSR (RPD = 1.93, RPIQ = 2.65) and RF (RPD = 1.59, RPIQ = 2.19). These results highlight the potential of Sentinel-2 data to predict SRF cover, and future work could explore integrating remote sensing with geophysical methods to further enhance predictions.
How to cite: Zayani, H., Vaudour, E., Marques Perez, M. J., Baghdadi, N., Pichelin, P., Herranz-Luque, J. E., García-Delgado, C., Carral, P., Abubakar, M. A., Michot, D., and Fouad, Y.: Sentinel-2 indices for enhanced prediction of soil rock fragments cover in a Spanish vineyard, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10556, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10556, 2026.
The EJP Soil SANCHOSTHIRST project (Cover cropS and soil health and climAte CHaNge adaptatiOn in semiarid woody crops: Remote Sensing and scenario projections) investigates the potential benefits of alternative soil management practices compared to traditional tillage in woody crops. Previous studies within the project have evaluated the effects of cover crops on soil enzymatic activities. Building on this work, the present study examines how different soil management strategies influence key soil enzyme activities across five olive‑growing locations in Spain included in the SANCHOSTHIRST network.
At each location, two adjacent plots were sampled: one managed with cover crops and the other under conventional tillage. In both plots, three composite soil samples were collected at two depths (0–10 cm and 10–30 cm). Samples intended for biological analyses were kept refrigerated from sampling until enzymatic determinations were performed. The enzymes analysed represent major biogeochemical cycles: β‑glucosidase (C cycle), urease (N cycle), phosphatase (P cycle), and arylsulfatase (S cycle). The physico‑chemical variables measured included pH, electrical conductivity, carbonate content, available ammonium, available nitrate, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, particle‑size distribution (sand, silt, clay), and bulk density. Variables related to vegetation present in each plot were also considered. One‑way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of soil management on the measured variables and to identify the physico‑chemical factors most strongly associated with enzyme activities.
Results showed that soil responses to agricultural management were not uniform across sites. In some cases, the use of cover crops enhanced beneficial soil properties such as nutrient availability, whereas in others it produced negative effects, including increased bulk density. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that enzyme activities were strongly correlated with nutrient availability, particularly soil organic carbon, available ammonium, and available phosphorus. Texture‑related parameters exerted either positive or negative effects depending on the specific enzyme. Aboveground biomass was identified as an important factor influencing arylsulfatase activity in tilled soils, while root biomass played a key role in dehydrogenase activity in soils managed with cover crops.
These findings suggest that, at least in the conditions studied, the impact of vegetation cover on soil improvement cannot be considered generalizable but is instead site‑dependent.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by the European Joint Programme for SOIL (EJP SOIL), funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme (Grant Agreement No. 862695), within the SANCHOTHIRST project. Javier González-Canales contract is financially supported under grant PRE2021-097966, funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF Investing in your future.
How to cite: Martin Sanz, J. P., González-Canales, J., Sastre, B., and Marqués Pérez, M. J.: Site‑Dependent Effects of Cover Crops on Soil Properties and Enzyme Activities in Semiarid Olive Systems (SANCHOSTHIRST PROJECT), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17277, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17277, 2026.
Posters virtual: Thu, 7 May, 14:00–18:00 | vPoster spot 1a
EGU26-13573 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS15
Effects of Legume Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Biomass and Foliar N of Young Grapevines under Simulated Warming and Reduced PrecipitationThu, 07 May, 14:00–14:03 (CEST) vPoster spot 1a
In Mediterranean viticulture, climate change is reshaping management practices by increasing water scarcity and temperatures, challenging productivity and wine quality. The establishment of new vineyards is particularly vulnerable at early stages. In this context, legume cover crops (CCs) may enhance soil resilience and vineyard establishment through increased biological activity and biological N fixation.
This study evaluated the potential of two legume CCs to improve soil N availability and early grapevine development under a simulated warming scenario (+2 °C) and contrasting precipitation regimes. A microcosm experiment (12 kg soil per pot) was conducted under semi-controlled greenhouse conditions (Madrid, Spain) using a multifactorial design including three soil management treatments (bare soil, cover crop of Medicago truncatula Gaertn., and cover crop of Trifolium subterraneum L.), two precipitation levels (current and 15 % reduced), and two grapevine cultivars (white cv. Airén and red cv. Tempranillo). Cover crops were mowed 75 days after sowing, and their residues were left on soil surface as mulch. After one growing cycle, soil total N and extractable NO₃⁻ were measured, and grapevine foliar biomass, as well as foliar N content, were determined.
Under warming conditions, legume CCs did not increase soil total N or extractable NO₃⁻ compared with bare soil. In contrast, reduced precipitation increased both parameters. Moreover, reduced precipitation decreased total foliar N amount by a 14 %. This suggests that reduced precipitation limited N uptake by the grapevine and in consequence increased the soil NO3-. These results may be explained by decreased water availability, given that N assimilation is an active, energy-dependent process regulated by the water status of grapevine and CCs.
Foliar biomass showed significant interaction between soil management and precipitation level. Under bare soil conditions, reduced precipitation decreased leaf biomass by 22 % relative to current precipitation. In contrast, under current precipitation, CCs reduced leaf biomass by 20 % compared with bare soil. However, under reduced precipitation CCs did not decrease foliar biomass respect to bare soil. This interaction indicates that cover crop competition is significant under current precipitation but not under reduced precipitation. A reduction in foliar biomass under CCs, when not accompanied by reduced precipitation, would indicate that factors other than water competition are involved. One such factor could be N uptake by the cover crops, which reduces N uptake by the grapevine and consequently limits its foliar development.
In conclusion, legume CCs did not increase soil N availability grapevine N status, or foliar growth in grapevines during their first growing cycle. However, they were not detrimental to grapevine foliar biomass under water-restricted conditions compare to the bare soil. Overall, the results highlight water availability as a key factor modulating of the soil–plant N balance. These results support the use of legume CCs as sustainable soil management for climate-resilient viticulture at the first year of grapevine establishment. Further research is needed to optimize legume CCs management to enhance soil N availability and grapevine performance under future climate change scenarios.
Acknowledgements: proyecto CUBIC. PID2023-147576OB-C21 y PID2023-147576OB-C22, financiadas por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
How to cite: Fariña, C. J., Enciso Santacruz, D., Hernández- Montes, E., Muñiz González, A. B., Mariscal-Sancho, I., Hontoria, C., and Peregrina, F.: Effects of Legume Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Biomass and Foliar N of Young Grapevines under Simulated Warming and Reduced Precipitation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13573, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13573, 2026.
EGU26-12374 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS15
Short-term effect of leguminous cover crops on soil health in young vineyards with simulated global warming.Thu, 07 May, 14:03–14:06 (CEST) vPoster spot 1a
Global warming is increasingly threatening vineyards soil health, particularly in Mediterranean regions, mainly compromising their biological parameters, which are highly sensitive to rising temperatures. Sustainable management practices, such as the use of legume cover crops (CCS) have been emerging as an effective strategy to mitigate these impacts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of legume CCs in new vineyard plantations, as a sustainable soil management practice to enhance resistance and resilience to warming conditions. The experiment was conducted in Central Spain) under dry climate (Bsk, cold steppe), with an average annual temperature of 14.1 °C, and annual precipitation of 421.8 mm, 57% of which occurs between September and February and the soil presented a sandy loam texture. A completely randomised design was applied with three factors: (i) temperature: normal (current climatic conditions) vs increased (~ +1 °C) using open-top chambers (OTC); (ii) soil management with three levels: bare soil with tillage (T), and two CCs, CC Trifolium subterraneum L. (TCC), and Medicago truncatula Gaern. (MCC); and (iii) grapevine cultivar: cv. Airén versus cv. Tempranillo. The combination generated 12 treatments with four replicates (48 experimental units). Four months after grapevine planting and CC sowing, and one month after CC mowing soil samples were collected at two depths (0–10 and 10–30 cm) to determine key soil health indicators: enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, phosphatase, urease, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase), basal and induced respiration, pH and electrical conductivity. The infiltration rate was also determined. Results show that both MCC and TCC significantly increased β-glucosidase and urease activities in the 0–10 cm layer compared with tilled bare soil, while OTC warming reduced phosphatase and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activities, potentially compromising nutrient recycling. The grapevine cultivar × CC interaction revealed that soils with cv. Airén responded better with Medicago truncatula Gaern, showing a significant increase in urease activity in the 10–30 cm layer, whereas in cv. Tempranillo no significant differences were observed. This suggests that the effect of CC on soil biological activity depends on the grapevine cultivar, underscoring the need to further investigate these interactions. Basal and induced respiration increased with CCs relative to bare soil but decreased under OTC warming. In addition, MCC increased electrical conductivity in the 0–10 cm layer compared to TCC and bare soil. No significant differences were observed in the infiltration rate. These findings indicate that leguminous cover crops enhance soil biological activity in the short term, while physical properties such as infiltration and chemical properties such as pH require longer periods to show significant changes. Overall, the use of leguminous CCs represents a promising strategy to sustain soil health in young vineyards under global warming, with cultivar-specific responses that warrant deeper investigation.
Acknowledgements: This study was carried out in the framework of the CUBIC project. Grants PID2023-147576OB-C21 and PID2023-147576OB-C22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
How to cite: Enciso-Santacruz, D., Hontoria, C., Peregrina, F., Hernández-Montes, E., Sánchez-Elez Martin, S., and Mariscal-Sancho, I.: Short-term effect of leguminous cover crops on soil health in young vineyards with simulated global warming., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12374, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12374, 2026.
