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Tesis para obtener el grado de Doctor of Philosophy, presentada en la New Mexico State University (Estados Unidos), en noviembre de 2019.

Cover crops improves soil and water conservation in agriculture but it uses requires local experiences and adaptations. The aim of this work was to quantify the effect of different cover crops in the inter-rows of peach on soil organic matter and water content evolution, and on the vegetative and reproductive traits of peach trees (Prunus persica L. Batsch) at the south area of Mendoza (San Rafael), Argentina. Plants of 14 years-old of the ‘Cristalino’ variety, grafted on ‘Nemaguard’ rootstock, conducted in an open vase system, and planted in a sandy loam soil 4.5 x 3 m apart were used. Trials were conducted during two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). The treatments were T0-Control, without cover crops (LM), where natural vegetation at the inter-rows of peach trees were repeatedly removed by mechanical tillage; T1-Permanent cover crop of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.); and T2-Annual cover-crop of a 50 % mixture of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), cv. ‘La Enramada’ and oats (Avena sativa L.), cv. ‘Calen’. Dry matter production of the cover crops, changes of soil organic fractions and volumetric soil-moisture content were periodically evaluated. Soil water retention curves were also adjusted for each treatment. Furthermore, the effects of cover crops treatments on vegetative and reproductive traits of peach trees were measured. An experimental design in a randomized complete block with three replications was used. Dry matter production of Lucerne (T1) tripled that of annuals cover during the period from August to January. The coarse particulate carbon (COPg) permanent (Lucerne cover)soil cover between the first and the last measurement increased 100%, rapidly reflecting the benefits of mulches.No significantly changes were observed in the other soil organic carbon fractions. The volumetric soil-moisture content normally was higher in both cover crops treatments, reaching a maximum difference of 16 % in the surface soil-layer (0-20 cm) in comparison with the Control. Cover treatments improved peach yield (3-7 kg per plant), whereas only annual covers increased nitrogen and calcium foliar content (+23 – 28,7 %).