An illustrated 60-pages manual describing the problems of drought and competing vegetation in tree planting in Europe and the Mediterranean, introducing the most common techniques utilized to control these threats. The emphasis is done on soil conditioners and groundcovers, including the description of the main versions of both techniques, and a cost analysis on their use, compared to reference techniques, in a wide range of tree planting scenarios.
English: Soil conditioners and groundcovers for sustainable and cost-efficient tree planting in Europe and the Mediterranean
Français: Amendements de sol et paillis pour des plantations d’arbres viables et rentables en Europe et en Méditerranée
Español: Acondicionadores y cubiertas del suelo para una plantación de árboles más eficiente y sostenible
A set of 8 articles have been published in scientific and technical publications produced at different geographic scopes.
– Coello J, Piqué M, Rovira P, Fuentes C, Ameztegui A. 2018. Combining innovative mulches and soil conditioners in mountain afforestation with ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in the Pyrenees (NE Spain). Forest systems 27(3), e017, 13 pages
– Coello J, Ameztegui A, Rovira P, Fuentes C, Piqué M. 2018. Innovative soil conditioners and mulches for forest restoration in semiarid conditions in northeast Spain. Ecological engineering 118: 52-65
– Vitone A, Coello J, Piqué M, Rovira P. 2016. Use of innovative groundcovers in Mediterranean afforestations: aerial and belowground effects in hybrid walnut. Annals of Silvicultural Research. 40 (2): 134-147. Download
– Coello J, Piqué M, Rovira P, Fuentes C. 2016. Intérêt de l’amendement et du paillage pour les plantations forestières en région méditerranéenne : le projet FP7 Sustaffor. Forêt-Méditerranéene 37 (1): 25-34. Link to the journal.
– Coello J, Rovira P, Fuentes C, Piqué M. 2016. Eficacia y sostenibilidad en restauración forestal: nuevos acondicionadores y cubiertas del suelo. Proceedings of the III Joint meeting of the Spanish Society of Forest Sciences – Working Group on Afforestation and the Spanish Association of Land Ecology (Lugo, October 2015). Download (Spanish)
– Coello J, Piqué M. 2016. Condicionadors i cobertes del sòl per a plantacions forestals més sostenibles i eficients. Silvicultura 73: 26-31. Download (Catalan)
– Coello J, Cortina J, Valdecantos A and Varela E. 2015. Forest landscape restoration experiences in southern Europe: sustainable techniques for enhancing early tree performance. Unasylva 245, Vol 66(3): 82-90. Download
– Coello J, Rovira P, Fuentes C. and Piqué M. 2015. Proyecto Sustaffor: acondicionadores de suelo y acolchados para plantaciones. Navarra Forestal 37: 35-37. Download (Spanish)
– Coello J, Piqué M, Rovira P and Fuentes C. 2015. Innovació en tècniques sostenibles de reforestació. Catalunya Forestal 126: 5-10. Download (Catalan)
– Coello J, Fuentes C, Piqué M. 2015. Innovative soil conditioning and mulching techniques for forest restoration in Mediterranean conditions. In: Ivetic V., Stankovic D. (eds.) Proceedings: International conference Reforestation Challenges. 3-6 June 2015, Belgrade, Serbia. Reforesta. 201-210. Download
Unpublished reports:
– Pere Rovira (CTFC) and Laurent Grasset (CNRS) prepared a report on the main results from Tasks 5.1 and 5.2: soil analyses: evolution of soil organic carbon and soil organic matter fractionation in Sustaffor field trials. Download
– Luc Ruys (Centexbel) prepared a report on the main results from Task 5.3: Physical properties of groundcover techniques and degradability assessment. Download
The project brochure, project poster and the periodic Newsletters are provided below.
1. Technical guide on soil conditioners and groundcovers
