Vineyard floor management affects soil, plant nutrition, and grape yield and quality
Management of the vineyard floor affects soil and crop productivity, as well as runoff and sediment that leave the vineyard. In Monterey County, weed control is typically conducted in a 4-foot-wide area under the vines, while cover crops are planted in the middles between...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2008-05-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v062n04p184 |
| Summary: | Management of the vineyard floor affects soil and crop productivity, as well as runoff
and sediment that leave the vineyard. In Monterey County, weed control is typically
conducted in a 4-foot-wide area under the vines, while cover crops are planted in
the middles between vine rows. This 5-year multidisciplinary study in a low rainfall
vineyard evaluated the impact of weed control strategies (cultivation, pre-emergence
and post-emergence herbicides) in the vine rows, factorially arranged with three cover-crop
treatments in the middles. We studied soil compaction, moisture and runoff; vine and
soil nutrition; soil microbial biomass and mycorrhizae; and grape yield and quality.
The late-maturing 'Trios 102' triticale used more water during the vine growing season
than the earlier maturing 'Merced' rye. Cover crops increased organic matter and microbial
biomass in the middles and reduced sediment loss. Weed control treatments did not
affect crop yield or soil nutritional and microbiological parameters, but cultivation
increased soil compaction at 4 to 7 inches deep. Weed control strategies and cover
crops must be chosen carefully to maximize benefits and minimize negative environmental
impacts. |
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| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |