Portuguese AFINET training session entitled “Use of Keyline for water management in agroforestry systems”

The Portuguese AFINET training session entitled “Use of Keyline for water management in agroforestry systems” took place on the 20th of November 2019, at ISA.

"The Portuguese Innovation broker, Joana Amaral Paulo (Centro de Estudos Florestais/Instituto Superior de Agronomia) started the event and presented the AFINET project’s results and all the dissemination materials. Attendees were also given printed versions of the translated AFINET factsheets and the Agforward leaflets also translated in the context of the AFINET project.  

Thirteen agroforestry multipliers attended the AFINET training session. Joana’s presentation was followed by a presentation by Jesús Ruiz Gamez, from Linea Clave on “Keyline techniques for water management”. The main features of keyline techniques were described in an interactive way with the participants.

One of the attendees talked about her successful experience with the use of keylines in her fruit tree orchard, as a result of a project developed by Linea Clave in previous years. Several other keyline projects which were already implemented were shown, some of them in Portugal, in the centre and southern regions of the country. Attendees were free to ask questions, namely how to better adapt this technique to sloping areas or afforestation projects.

The farm machinery used for keyline implementation were presented. Specific issues related to the implementation of the keyline technique in cork oak stands where Phytophthora cinnamomi is present were emphasized. The redistribution of water in the soil promoted by the keyline approach may promote the spread of the fungus, and for this reason, keyline techniques should only be adopted if sterile conditions of the farm implements can be guaranteed."