Highlight

This initiative aims to favor the cork sector, from producers to processors, by enhancing the growth of cork oak trees, providing improved plants and producing and forming high-quality cork, preserving and favoring the vitality of intensive production trees using fertigation.

Abstract

The objectives of this project are: (1) to know the possibility of anticipating the production of cork in new cork-oak plantations with fertigation in a profitable way (2) to evaluate the effect of fertigation on the formation, production and quality of cork using pre-existing plantations of adult cork-oaks or in pre-harvest situation and (3) proceed with the transfer of technical and scientific knowledge generated in this Operational Group for the installation of new stands of cork-oaks using the introduction of fertigation. In order to achieve these objectives, different areas of experimentation will be monitored, of which 5 will constitute areas of “pilot trials” and another 5 areas will already be on a scale of “commercial production for profit” and advance with 5 new plantations.

As the main results / outputs of this initiative, it is expected to transfer knowledge previously generated in pilot trials and expand this knowledge in order to elaborate a cultural itinerary for cork production in intensive production systems with a thorough analysis of the economic viability of this type of production. Thus, this initiative will allow companies and forest owners (partner entities) to know the mid- term impacts of fertigation, its economic viability and its possible applications. The analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of these tests will enable the expansion of the incorporation of the results in the potential areas of the forest sector in the medium term. It is noteworthy that another of the outputs that is intended to be obtained is an increase in the interdisciplinary transfer of integrated technical-scientific knowledge for a better management of these forest systems.

Keywords

Cork trees; Cork; Fertigation.

Promoters/Partners

Universidade de Évora(leader), Amorim Florestal S.A.(partner), Casa Agrícola da Herdade do Conqueiro, S.A. (partner), Companhia Agrícola da Apariça, SA (partner), Companhia Agrícola das Polvorosas, S.A. (partner), FRUTICOR – Sociedade Agrícola de Frutas e Cortiças, S.A(partner), Herdade do Pinheiro, S.A.( partner), Herdade Machoqueira do Grou CRL(partner), INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária(partner), Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, I.P.( partner), Sociedade Agrícola de Cortiças Flocor, S.A(partner), União da Floresta Mediterrânica(partner), Universidade Católica Portuguesa(partner), Zea, Sociedade Agrícola Unipessoal, Lda.( partner)