Long-term soil functional differences between spontaneous cover cropping and tillage in a semi-arid vineyard
Juan Emilio Herranz-Luque·María José Marqués·Marco A. Jiménez‐González·Juan Pedro Martín-Sanz·Blanca Sastre·Pilar Carral·Javier González-Canales
Context Soil degradation and water scarcity pose critical challenges for vineyard sustainability in semi-arid regions. Objectives This study evaluates the long-term effects of spontaneous cover cropping (CC) on soil health in a rainfed vineyard in central Spain, managed without irrigation or pesticides for over two decades. Methodology By comparing soils under CC and conventional tillage (TILL), we assessed changes in soil physical properties (porosity and water retention), nutrient content, and