SUSTAINABLE KIWIFRUIT ORCHARD MANAGEMENT IN SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENTS

South Italian environments are able to produce high yields of high quality, irrigated, organic fruit. However, continual tillage, application of mineral fertilisers instead of green manures and the removal of crop residues have resulted in severe mineralization of the soil with soil organic carbon levels commonly reduced to ~1%. We present here the results of two years work on improving soil fertility by introducing practices that are more sustainable than those commonly used by local growers. These alternative practices have increased both yield and biomass production, while the input of mineral fertilisers has been drastically reduced. Root distribution responses are also discussed.