Drought in Europe: The Portuguese Condition · Corina Carranca Drought in Europe: The Portuguese Condition. Portugal 9 9 France nd 700 Gremany nd 1,300 Spain 150 1,000 United Kingdom

Drought in Europe:The Portuguese Condition

Carranca, C.1; Duarte-Maçãs, I.2; Brito da Luz, P.3; Carneiro, J.P.4; Antunes, C.5

1INRB/L-INIA, Quinta do Marquês, Av. República, Nova Oeiras

2748-505 Oeiras, Portugal, [email protected]

2INRB/L-INIA, Apartado 6, 7350-951 Elvas, Portugal, [email protected]

3INRB/L-INIA, Quinta do Marquês, Av. República, Nova Oeiras

2748-505 Oeiras, Portugal, [email protected]

4INRB/L-INIA, Apartado 6, 7350-951 Elvas, Portugal, [email protected]

5University of Algarve, Portugal, [email protected]

GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring WorkshopMay 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)Corina Carranca

mailto:corina.carranca@g

mailto:[email protected]



GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring WorkshopMay 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)


Western of Iberian Peninsula Latitude: 37º-42ºN Longitude: 9º-6ºW

Mediterranean-type climate in South

Corina Carranca


Minimum and maximum average air temperatures in Portugal (ºC).

(The mean annual temperature in the country ranges from 13 ºC to 18 ºC )

Drought in Europe: The Portuguese Condition

Corina Carranca

Average annual air temperature (1931-2004)(Source: Instituto de Meteorologia, Portugal)


Accumulated monthly precipitation in Portugal (mm).

(The average rainfall in south varies from 450 and 570 mm year-1,

whereas in northern it can reach 2,200 mm year-1 )


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Corina CarrancaGEO-DRI Drought Monitoring Workshop

May 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)


162568Portugal

4144141Spain

15212143Greece

4412827Italy

2249209South France

Area without

informationLow

risk

Moderate

risk

High

risk

Country

Potential erosion risk (%) in southern Europe





Organic C in european soils (0-30 cm), in relation with soil erosion (Source: European Commission, 2004. Reports of the Technical Working Groups, II)

Water erosion in EU

115 million ha

(12% total area)

Wind erosion in EU

42 million ha

(4% total area)



45% of european soils with low OM

content

(0-20 g Corg kg-1)

45% of european

soils with medium

levels of OM

(20-60 g Corg kg-1)

Pre-desertification index: 17 g OM kg-1

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GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring Workshop

Corina Carranca

reduction on soil organic C and biodiversity;

reduction on water retention;

reduction on biodegradation;

interruption on C and N biogeochemical cycles;

direct adverse impact on water and air quality, and an

indirect impact on crop production and human health

Main consequences

from reduction on soil organic

matter

Negative impact of certain

irrigation systems:

Soil erosion and desertification;

Soil alkalinity;

Soil compaction and crusting;

Water polution;

Water loss

European Commission

proposed a Directive for Soil

Protection and Conservation

(COM(2006)231), which is not

yet implemented:

Reduction on soil compaction and disruption (use of soil conservation practices);

Priority for permanent pastures;

Reduction on overgrazing;

Use of cover crops and legumes;

Implementing a data base for physical, chemical, biological indicators of soil quality;

Introduction of an erosion tax;

Educational programs


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99Portugal

700ndFrance

1,300ndGremany

1,000150Spain

nd200United Kingdom

4,0604,060Canada

8,6408,640Australia

11,00011,000Argentina

14,33014,330Brasil44,12021,120USA

Conservation practice

Direct seedingCountry

Agricultural Land (x 103 ha) / Soil Management

Source: APOSOLO (2001) GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring WorkshopMay 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)

Drought Impacts in Europe: The Portuguese Condition

Corina Carranca

10

12

14

16

18

20

4 5 6 7 8

Amount of Residues (Mg ha-1

)

Org

an

ic C

(g

kg

-1)

Y= 0.89 + 0.13x, R2 = 0.98

Source: Carvalho, M. et al. (2002)

Soil Organic Carbon (0-30 cm) in Function of Crop Residue





Biodiverse pastures can accumulate 4 Mg Corg ha-1 yr-1

The Portuguese extensive farming system “montado”,

consisting of cork and oak trees, shrubs and

biodiverse pastures can accumulate even more Corg by

the large senescent leaves from the trees.

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The leaves of most common trees

and bushes in the agro-forest

ecosystems in southern Portugal

(Quercus suber L., Q. ilex L., Q.

coccifera L.) were used to obtain the

characteristic drop size for

determining the C factor for tree and

bush canopies

Portugal offers good conditions for grain

pulses production

N2 fixers are important biofertilizers in

sustainable agro-ecosystems

Chickpea, fababean, pea

and lupine are important

grain legumes in the

Mediterranean basin



Most soils contain endogenous

bacteria (Rhizobium sp.) very

efficient to fix N2 with various

legumes (>65% plant N)

Legumes, in rotation or

associated, can be an additional

source of income for farmers

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Chickpea is the third pulse crop in the world. This species is

characterized by high contents of protein and carbohydrate in the grain,

both important in human diets.

In the Mediterranean agricultural systems, chickpea is a spring crop,

sown in March-April and is extremely affected by long periods of drought

during the reproductive phase.



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Diseases and drought are the most

important limiting yield factors.

Drought is the major abiotic stress

throughout the chickpea growing

areas. Normally, water stress

conditions, shorten the growth cycle

and chickpea plants stop the apical

growth.GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring Workshop


A breeding program will develop new

chickpea germplasm resistant to the

main abiotic and biotic stress


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Pear Production in Portugal (Mg)

0

50

100

150

200

1 2 3 4 5

Years

Yie

ld (

10

3 M

g)

Yield

Average

Berries, Almonds and Nuts Production in

Portugal (Mg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4 5Years

Yie

ld (

10

3 M

g)

Almonds yield

Berries yield

Nuts yield

Average (2003-2007)

Average (2003-2007)

Average (2003-2007)

Fruits Production in Portugal in 2003-2007



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B

GEO-DRI Drought Monitoring WorkshopMay 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) Corina Carranca


The importance of Mycorrhiza

Myke = fungi

+

Rhiza = root

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CONCLUSIONSDrought caused desertification, soil degradation, reduction

of crop yield.

To improve soil fertility, the soil should be kept covered;

crop rotations or associated crops, with inclusion of

legumes, even annual pastures should be used;

soil conservation practices should be a priority;

use of natural or improved permanent pastures, particularly

in steep slopes and shallow soils;

use of appropriate irrigation systems and water frequency;

maximize the mycorrhizal colonization.

.

ThanksGEO-DRI Drought Monitoring Workshop

May 10-11, 2010, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)Corina Carranca

Documents

Drought in Europe: The Portuguese Condition · Corina Carranca Drought in Europe: The Portuguese Condition. Portugal 9 9 France nd 700 Gremany nd 1,300 Spain 150 1,000 United Kingdom