Determination of the effects of cover crops on yield and pomological characteristics of ‘Meyer’ lemon

The shift towards high-density citrus orchards necessitates sustainable weed management strategies that maximize yield without compromising environmental health. Conventional methods, such as herbicide application and mechanical tillage, pose risks to soil structure and root systems, particularly in the heavy clay soils of the Mediterranean. This study evaluated the efficacy of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as a cover crop for weed management in a ‘Meyer’ lemon (Citrus meyeri Yu. Tanaka) orchard in Adana, Turkey, and compared it to chemical herbicide application, weed cutting, and an unmanaged control. A three-year field experiment (2020-2022) employed a randomized complete block design to assess the impact of these four treatments on tree yield and fruit quality characteristics (Fruit weight (g), Fruit length (mm), Fruit diameter (mm), Peel thickness (mm), Fruit segment number, seed number, TSS (%), Total acidity (%), TSS/TA, Fruit juice (%)).The results indicated that while annual yield was statistically similar across all treatments, cover crop application significantly enhanced key fruit quality characteristics in the second year. Fruits from the vetch treatment exhibited a greater weight (98.74 g), length (65.87 mm), and width (54.0 mm) than those from the chemical application. Furthermore, the vetch and weed cutting treatments produced fruit with significantly thicker rinds (p<0.0044). Total Soluble Solids (TSS) were highest in the weed cutting treatment, while juice content remained unaffected by the management strategy.