© Fundación Global Nature
Crops
The most outstanding crop is Melon del Carrizal, which occupies an area of approximately 13 ha, which are rotated annually, so that melon cultivation effectively occupies twice or triple the area. There are also other horticultural productions such as artichoke, broccoli or beans. The plots are also rotated with forage crops, including alfalfa, which provides food for the more than 5,000 head of goats and sheep that graze by Carrizales and which provide quality milk for the production of cheese and other dairy products. Among the permanent crops, the Mollar de Elche pomegranate has made great progress in recent years due to its great acceptance in international markets.
Undoubtedly, the most peculiar aspect of this space is the network of channels or hazards depending on the Segura river and considered "one of the most complex historical irrigation systems known in the world”. Most of the agricultural area of the Carrizales is irrigated and by surface irrigation. The dripping experiences have not been entirely satisfactory to date and the superficial irrigations are still necessary to wash the salts that rise to the surface. There are no current experiences in organic farming in this space.