Aranjuez, Spain
A new AgNUE supersite focused on irrigated Mediterranean horticultural cropping systems.
Status:
New complete supersite
Lead institution: Technical University of Madrid
Soil type:
Typic xerofluvent, silty loam texture
Supersite lead:
Alberto Sanz-Cobeña
Why the supersite?
The Spain supersite will help AgNUE study nitrogen mitigation in irrigated Mediterranean horticulture at La Chimenea Field Station in Aranjuez, Madrid. The site represents a silty loam Typic Xerofluvent with low organic carbon and basic pH, under conditions characterised by low rainfall and extreme temperatures. Irrigation supports horticultural production, including key semiarid (inc, Mediterranean) crops. The site is particularly relevant for comparing conventional synthetic fertilisation, organic fertilisation and enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers applied under irrigated conditions, while assessing effects on nitrogen losses, crop yield and quality in the context of increasing droughts and water scarcity associated with climate change.
What this site helps AgNUE compare
This site gives AgNUE a setting to compare nitrogen management in irrigated horticultural production under Mediterranean conditions. It helps assess how conventional, organic and enhanced-efficiency fertilisation strategies perform in a low-carbon alkaline soil, including their effects on N₂O mitigation, volatilized ammonia and other reactive nitrogen losses and crop performance.
Irrigated Mediterranean horticulture
Represents horticultural crop production under hot, dry Mediterranean conditions supported by irrigation infrastructure.
Organic and synthetic fertilisation
Supports direct comparison of conventional N fertilisation with organic nitrogen supplied through sheep manure and soluble organic fertilizer in a long term organic managed farming soil.
Enhanced-efficiency fertigation
Allows evaluation of conventional N fertilization with nitrification and urease inhibitors, together with organic fertilizing practices applied under irrigated conditions.
Nitrogen and crop trade-offs
Provides a setting to assess mitigation effects across reactive nitrogen losses while also considering crop yield and quality.
From supersites to impact
A shared pathway across the AgNUE platform.
Explore images from the supersite
Dive into a selection of images revealing the agricultural landscapes and research activities at our Sinderhoeve supersite.
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