Thyme among almond trees: Mitigates climate change and increases the production of the land in Spain

The introduction of perennial crops in the alleys of rainfed Mediterranean almond trees reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and increases carbon sequestration from the soil, according to the latest study by the Diverfarming project Agriculture has become a source of greenhouse gas emissions due to agricultural intensification and high input use, however it has great potential to be a carbon sink. Indeed, agricultural soils present a unique opportunity for carbon sequestration and offsetting of emissions if properly managed. In search of that management that helps combat climate change and maintain (and even increase) the productivity of the land, the Diverfarming project has opted for the introduction of two perennial crops (thyme and caper) between the alleys of a field of almond trees rainfed in Murcia, with reduced tillage. A team made up of research staff from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) together with CEBAS - CSIC have evaluated the short-term effect of ...