ABSTRACT Soil erosion control poses a crucial challenge to the sustainability of Mediterranean olive groves. To facilitate field‐level decision‐making, we have developed a field guide oriented to use in any type of olive orchard across the Mediterranean. It enables users to assess erosion risk and identify tailored, site‐specific soil conservation strategies. The guide combines two complementary approaches: (i) a management‐based appraisal using a developed Erosion Risk Index (ERI) derived from RUSLE simulations and (ii) a visual assessment of erosion symptoms through an Erosion Symptom Index (ESI). This diagnosis is linked to tables of specific recommendations, which include an appraisal of their costs and effectiveness. The ERI was developed using over 6000 simulated scenarios, and the guide was evaluated through three approaches: comparison with long‐term erosion measurements, correlation with soil quality indicators and field evaluations in commercial orchards. Furthermore, participatory workshops with farmers, technicians and academics confirmed the guide's usability and replicability across diverse stakeholder profiles and case studies. Collectively, the field guide provides a comprehensive approach for evaluating erosion risk and guiding suitable interventions. The cost‐effectiveness analysis of the recommended practices further supports informed decision‐making. This free tool offers practical support for improving soil conservation in Mediterranean olive grove systems.
Domenech‐Carretero et al. (2026) studied this question.