Clover and herbs keep fruit plantations 20 degrees cooler than grass

In Belgium's Haspengouw region, fruit plantations are facing intense heat and drought, causing grass strips between fruit trees to wither. However, researchers at the Proefcentrum Fruitteelt (PC Fruit) in Sint-Truiden have discovered a significant difference: plantations using clover and herb mixtures instead of grass remain visibly green and, crucially, much cooler.

This year's extreme weather conditions have made the results of a multi-year experiment strikingly clear. While grass strips bake under the sun, the clover and herb mixtures thrive. Researcher Ann Gomand explained that these plants have deeper root systems, enabling them to better endure drought and heat, thereby keeping the soil temperature lower.

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On scorched grass strips, the temperature can currently rise above 60 degrees Celsius. On clover and herb strips, the temperature is now between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. They create a completely different microclimate.

"On scorched grass strips, the temperature can currently rise above 60 degrees Celsius. On clover and herb strips, the temperature is now between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. They create a completely different microclimate," Gomand stated. The PC Fruit has been experimenting with about a dozen different herbs in these mixtures for five years, finding they perform well not only in dry periods but also during wet seasons by improving soil structure and water infiltration.

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Water naturally remains important. Fresh ground cover between the fruit trees combined with irrigation systems seems to be the future.

Dany Bylemans, director of PC Fruit, noted the growing interest from fruit growers in replacing traditional grass strips. However, he cautioned that this is not a complete solution for arid and hot periods. "Water naturally remains important," Bylemans said. "Fresh ground cover between the fruit trees combined with irrigation systems seems to be the future." He pointed out that only 25 percent of pear growers in the region currently have irrigation systems, and installing them involves permits and considerations about water usage during dry spells.

Bylemans added that the question of how much water agriculture can use during droughts is something the government must address following this hot and dry summer. The findings from PC Fruit suggest that while ground cover management is vital, sustainable water strategies will also be essential for the future of fruit cultivation.

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And then you also have the question of how much water we can use in agriculture during dry periods. This is something the government will have to think about after this dry and hot summer.