Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-93-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-93-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Soil erosion in Mediterranean olive groves: a review
ETSIAM, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus Rabanales, Edif. Da Vinci, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
Emilio Jesús González-Sánchez
ETSIAM, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus Rabanales, Edif. Da Vinci, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF), Rond Point Schuman, 6, P.O. Box 5, 1040, Brussels, Belgium
Filippo Milazzo
Agricolus, Via Settevalli 320, 06129, Perugia, Italy
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Short summary
Olive groves face severe soil erosion, threatening their sustainability. This study reviewed existing research to understand how and why erosion happens and why results often seem contradictory. We found that: (a) differences mostly come from how and where erosion is measured, not from disagreement about the problem and (b) soil management is decisive. Keeping the ground covered with vegetation consistently cuts soil loss by over half. This urges the adoption of soil conservation practices.
Olive groves face severe soil erosion, threatening their sustainability. This study reviewed...