Effect of vineyard floor management practices on water use: A case study at a terroir of the "Dão" winegrowing region in Portugal

Aiming to evaluate the effect of vineyard floor management practices on water use and vine performance, a field experiment was carried out at the Dão Wine Research Station, located at Nelas, Center Portugal. The experiment was set up in 2010 in a mature vineyard planted with the red grape variety ‘Touriga Nacional’, using a 2x2 factorial design with the following treatments: inter-row soil management (permanent resident vegetation vs. soil tillage) and undervine floor management (mulch vs. herbicide). In this paper it will be presented data from 2013 growing season (four seasons after experiment setup). The volumetric soil moisture, assessed with a capacitance probe to a 1.5 m depth, showed a decreasing pattern throughout the growing season in all treatments with the resident vegetation presenting lower values as compared to the tillage treatment, while no significant differences were observed between the two undervine floor management practices. From budburst to flowering the resident vegetation treatment showed a higher soil water depletion (up to 1.5 m depth) than the tillage treatment but the relative situation was reversed during the flowering-veraison period, while no significant differences were observed during the ripening period. Vine stem water potential values showed a decreasing pattern along the season attaining very low values during September but with no significant differences between treatments. In general the soil management practices did not significantly affect vine vigor, yield and berry composition however, since these results are only from one season, further data analysis in ongoing in order to allow stronger conclusions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cover crops competition for water in vineyards: case studies in Mediterranean terroirs

Vineyard cover cropping is a cultural practice widely used in many of the world’s winegrowing regions being one of the most recommended practices to face climate changes and to promote vineyard environmental sustainability. The benefits of using cover crops are many ranging from environmental protection (e.g. control of soil erosion, enhancement of soil structure and biodiversity, sequestering carbon) to vineyard management, including control of vigor and improvement of berry composition. Despite those potential benefits, the adoption of cover crops in Mediterranean non-irrigated vineyards has been limited by the concern of excessive water competition between cover crops and vines. However the level of this competition should be better understood as in warm and dry terroirs, like the case of Mediterranean winegrowing regions, water competition by the cover crops is effective mainly during spring. During summer, the almost absence or rainfall induces the dry out of the sward vegetation which residues became dead mulch that can even reduce soil evaporation. Furthermore, some research has also demonstrated that, after some years of competition with swards, the vines were able to develop deeper roots, therefore increasing the capacity for water extraction from deeper soil layers. In order to further elucidate the above mentioned topics, in this paper data on water use and grapevine performance obtained in three floor management experiments (soil tillage vs. inter-row swards), carried out in three different winegrowing regions of the Mediterranean Portugal (covering rainfed and irrigated vineyards), will be presented. Discussion will be focus on water competition by the swards and corresponding effects on grapevine vigor, yield and berry composition. The effect of terroir on grapevine responses will be also underlined. From the data presented it can be concluded that cover crops is a vineyard management practice that can have a positive influence on water use efficiency, either by preventing vine excessive vigor when water is fully available during spring or by maximizing the volume of soil explored by vine roots through the enhancement of the exploitation of soil water reserves into deeper layers. However, in the case of low vigor vineyards located in dry terroirs, the degree of water competition between cover crops and vine must be carefully monitored and managed (e.g. by increasing mowing frequency, reducing the sward strip and/or choosing less competitive species) and adjustments in conventional irrigation management are necessary in order to avoid detrimental effects on grapevine yield and longevity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alternative weed management practices: Effects on weed control, grapevine performance, and soil quality in an established midwestern vineyard

Sustainable grape production entails the implementation of management practices that control weeds, maintain grapevine performance, and conserve soil quality. Conventional weed management practices include herbicide application and/or cultivation. These practices compromise soil quality by limiting additions of organic matter and exposing the soil surface, thereby leaving it prone to degradative processes. With the expansion of continental climate viticulture in areas with rain-fed agriculture, such as in the Midwest, there is a need for sustainable weed management practices that optimize production while conserving soil quality. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate weed management practices in an established midwestern vineyard. Sub-objectives of the investigation addressed within individual experiments include: 1) comparing conventional and alternative weed management practices on weed control, grapevine performance, and soil quality, and 2) evaluating the influence of irrigation on grapevine growth and development, grown with and without a living mulch, on mitigation of water competition. An additional objective of this investigation was to survey Iowa fruit growers\u27 attitudes and awareness of weed management practices that conserve soil resources. In the first experiment, two conventional and two alternative weed management strategies were compared in an established Iowan vineyard with `Marychal Foch\u27 grapevines (Vitis rupestris Scheele yvinifera L.). Treatments were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design and included: 1) cultivation, 2) herbicide application, 3) straw mulch, and 4) a living mulch of creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. `Pennlawn\u27). Straw and living mulches controlled weed populations and grapevine yield did not differ among the treatments. Dormant cane pruning weights and fruit quality were lowest in cultivated and straw mulch plots, respectively. Mulched plots had greater water-filled pore space and water content, as well as faster infiltration rates. No differences in chemical soil quality attributes were observed. Although earthworm populations were greater in straw mulch plots, no differences in soil enzymatic activity were found. Results from the experiment demonstrate straw and living mulches reduce weed populations, maintain grapevine productivity, and improve several indicators of soil quality. The effects of living mulches, with and without irrigation, on grapevine growth and development were measured in the second experiment. Data were collected from an established vineyard in Iowa with `Reliance\u27 and `Swenson Red\u27 grapevines (Vitus labrusca L.) planted in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were replicated eight times and included: 1) herbicide application without irrigation, 2) herbicide application with irrigation, 3) living mulch without irrigation, and 4) living mulch with irrigation. The living mulch treatment was a mixture of shade-tolerant creeping red and Chewings fescue [Festuca rubra L. `Foxy\u27 and F. rubra var. fallax (Thuill.) Hack. `Ambrose,\u27 respectively]. Supplemental irrigation was provided via drip irrigation and scheduling regimes were based on fescue evapotranspiration. Living mulches and irrigation had no consistent effect on grapevine growth and development, suggesting little-to-no competition existed between the grapevines and living mulches during the period in which the study was conducted. When compared to both herbicide-treated plots, living mulches reduced weed populations and promoted several indicators of soil quality. Results from both experiments demonstrate the alternative practices of straw and living mulches control weeds, maintain grapevine performance, and may be viable alternatives to vineyard weed management that promotes soil quality within the Midwest. While results from the experiments suggest alternative weed management practices may contribute to the sustainability of a weed management system, grower receptiveness to alternative practices is important when planning future extension-education programs and advancing soil-quality awareness. Within a survey of twenty-two Iowa fruit growers, all survey participants were aware of soil quality and considered the quality of their soils when making land management decisions. Most were aware of alternative weed management practices, yet were uncertain about the outcome of implementing alternative practices within their own production systems. To further advance the awareness and adoption of soil-quality concepts and alternative weed management practices, respectively, future extension programs should focus on educating growers how weed management decisions can impact both crop productivity and soil quality

Mulch and groundcover effects on soil temperature and moisture, surface reflectance, grapevine water potential, and vineyard weed management

The objectives of this research were to identify alternatives to glyphosate for intra- row (under-trellis) vineyard floor management and to evaluate the potential for intra- row and inter-row (alleyway) groundcovers to reduce vegetative vigor of `Marquette\u27 grapevines (Vitis spp.) in a southeast Nebraska vineyard. The experiment was a randomized factorial design with five intra-row treatments (crushed glass mulch [CG], distillers\u27 grain mulch [DG], creeping red fescue [CRF], non-sprayed control [NSC], and glyphosate [GLY]) and three inter-row treatments (creeping red fescue [CRF], Kentucky bluegrass [KB], and resident vegetation [RV]). Treatments were established in 2010-2011 and measurements were conducted during 2012 and 2013 on 5- and 6-year- old vines. Soil temperatures were mostly higher under mulches and lower under intra- row groundcovers, compared to GLY. Weed cover in CG, DG, and CRF treatments was the same or less than GLY. At most sampling dates, inter-row soil moisture was lowest under KB. Intra-row soil moisture was highest under DG mulch and lowest under CRF and NSC; CG had the same or lower soil moisture than GLY. Surprisingly, we did not detect differences in mid-day photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) reflectance, despite visual differences among the intra-row treatments. Mid-day vine water potential did not differ among treatments. We concluded it is not necessary to maintain a bare soil strip under established vines in this region, where soil fertility and moisture are non-limiting

Influence of vineyard inter-row management and clone on 'Sauvignon Blanc' performance in Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy)

The vineyard inter-row management affects grapevine vegetative and bunch health status, as well as yield and grape quality parameters. Several studies assessed that cover-cropped inter-row in place of soil tillage often reduced plant vigour and yield but positively contributed to vineyard ecosystem services and, to a lower extent, to grape quality. In 2013 and 2014, two inter-row management strategies, i.e. soil tillage and mowing of spontaneous cover crops, were compared in an organic vineyard in north-eastern Italy and cultivated with 'Sauvignon Blanc' (Vitis vinifera L.), clones R3 and 297. In particular, the effects of tillage and mowing treatments on grapevine vegetative and bunch health status, yield and grape quality were evaluated. The vegetative parameters were lower in the mowing treatment than in the tillage one and in clone R3 compared to 297. The incidence of Botrytis cinerea was higher in the tillage treatment than in the mowing one and in clone 297 compared to R3. A significant reduction of the yield and bunch weight was ascertained in the mowing treatment, and these parameters were higher for clone 297 compared to clone R3. Titratable acidity was significantly higher in the tillage treatment than in the mowing one and in clone 297 compared to R3. Moreover, hue of berry skin was qualitatively better in the tillage treatment than in the mowing one. In the pedo-climatic conditions of Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy), the management of the vineyard inter-row with spontaneous cover crops proved to be effective to manage grapevine vigour, reducing yield and improving quality of the grapes during maturation

Enrelvamento em vinha de encosta não regada: 2 - efeitos no crescimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade do mosto e vinho, casta Cabernet Sauvignon

Grapevine vegetative growth, yield, fruit composition and wine quality were studied in the Estremadura Winegrowing Region of Portugal in a ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ slopping non-irrigated vineyard. During three seasons three treatments were compared: soil tillage (control), permanent resident vegetation, and permanent sown cover crop. When compared to soil tillage, the inter-row sward treatments displayed a lower predawn leaf water potential from bloom to mid-ripening. These differences in vine water status did not affect vine yield or berry sugar accumulation; however, in the third season after experiment setup it induced a significant reduction in vegetative growth in the sward treatments, compared to soil tillage. This vegetative growth reduction had a positive effect on grape composition by reducing titratable acidity and increasing berry skin total phenols and anthocyanins. Those differences were also detected in the wines by the judges who gave a better classification to the wines from the sward treatments. Our results indicate that cover cropping can be a valuable tool for controlling vigour and enhancing wine quality in this winegrowing region

Inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Under-Vine Cover Crops for Sustainable Vineyards Development

Mestrado em Engenharia de Viticultura e Enologia. Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de CiênciasViticulture is a major economic sector in Europe. However, the raise of new challenges, such as the new regulations towards a limitation on the use of several agrochemicals, to new market demands, and to environmental and climatic awareness, forces adaptations on viticulture practices. Shift to sustainable vineyard management practices, such as the use of cover crops and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant mutualistic fungi, represent an attractive approach to respond to some of the challenges of modern viticulture. In this work, the benefits of the installation of cover crops as an eco-friendly soil management technique, with special attention to under-vine cover crops are reviewed. In addition, the advantages of AMF to improve agroecosystem functions and to promote higher grapevine performance will be reviewed. On the one hand, cover crops are widely known to prevent erosion, enhance soil physical and chemical properties, including nutrient cycles, as well as soil biological diversity and activity. Furthermore, the installation of cover crops in vineyards may improve grapevine nutritional status, control their vigour, and can prevent pests and diseases by providing food and shelter to antagonists of insect pests, nematodes, and pathogens. On the other hand, AMF improve grapevine nutrition, growth, and tolerance against a variety of biotic and abiotic stress factors, such as root diseases, water stress, soil salinity, and heavy metals toxicity. The mycorrhizal extraradical mycelium that extends in the soil also contributes to ameliorate soil properties such as particle aggregation, water retention, and soil stability. Using herbaceous plants as cover crops in vineyards favours the development of AMF, and therefore, the inoculation of AMF in under-vine cover crops can represent a novel sustainable soil management practice for vineyards with low propagule content or facing soil degradation.A viticultura é um setor economico importante na Europa. No entanto, a viticultura vê a necessidade de se adaptar a novos desafios, tais como novas regulamentações para a limitação do uso de vários agroquímicos, novas demandas do mercado e a crescente consciência ambiental e climática. A mudança da viticultura para práticas sustentáveis de gestão da vinha, como o uso de culturas de cobertura e fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA), fungos mutualísticos das plantas, representam uma abordagem atraente para responder a alguns dos desafios da viticultura moderna. Por um lado, as culturas de cobertura são amplamente conhecidas por prevenir a erosão, melhorar as propriedades físicas e químicas do solo, incluindo os ciclos de nutrientes, bem como a diversidade e atividade biológica do solo. Além disso, a instalação de plantas de cobertura nos vinhedos pode melhorar o estado nutricional da videira, controlar seu vigor e prevenir pragas e doenças, fornecendo alimento e abrigo para antagonistas de pragas de insetos, nematoides e patogénicos. Por outro lado, os FMA melhoram a nutrição, o crescimento e a tolerância da videira contra uma variedade de fatores de estresse biótico e abiótico, como doenças das raízes, estresse hídrico, salinidade do solo e toxicidade de metais pesados. O micélio extrarradicular micorrízico que se estende no solo também contribui para melhorar as propriedades do solo, como agregação de partículas, retenção de água e estabilidade do solo. O uso de plantas herbáceas como plantas de cobertura em vinhedos favorece o desenvolvimento de FMA e, portanto, a inoculação de FMA em plantas de cobertura sob a linha da vinha pode representar uma nova prática de manejo sustentável do solo para vinhedos com baixo teor de propágulos ou em degradação do solo. Neste trabalho, são revistos os benefícios da instalação de plantas de cobertura como uma técnica de manejo do solo sustentável, com especial atenção às plantas de cobertura localizadas na linha das videiras. Além disso, as vantagens de FMA para melhorar as funções do agroecossistema e promover o melhor desempenho da videira serão revisadas.N/

Global synthesis of the classifications, distributions, benefits and issues of terracing

For thousands of years, humans have created different types of terraces in different sloping conditions, meant to mitigate flood risks, reduce soil erosion and conserve water. These anthropogenic landscapes can be found in tropical and subtropical rainforests, deserts, and arid and semiarid mountains across the globe. Despite the long history, the roles of and the mechanisms by which terracing improves ecosystem services (ESs) remain poorly understood. Using literature synthesis and quantitative analysis, the worldwide types, distributions, major benefits and issues of terracing are presented in this review. A key terracing indicator, defined as the ratio of different ESs under terraced and non-terraced slopes (δ), was used to quantify the role of terracing in providing ESs. Our results indicated that ESs provided by terracingwas generally positive because themean values of δ were mostly greater than one. The most prominent role of terracing was found in erosion control (11.46 ± 2.34), followed by runoff reduction (2.60 ± 1.79), biomass accumulation (1.94 ± 0.59), soil water recharge (1.20±0.23), and nutrient enhancement (1.20±0.48). Terracing, to a lesser extent, could also enhance the survival rates of plant seedlings, promote ecosystem restoration, and increase crop yields.While slopes experiencing severe human disturbance (e.g., overgrazing and deforestation) can generally become more stable after terracing, negative effects of terracing may occur in poorly-designed or poorly-managed terraces. Among the reasons are the lack of environmental legislation, changes in traditional concepts and lifestyles of local people, as well as price decreases for agricultural products. All of these can accelerate terrace abandonment and degradation. In light of these findings, possible solutions regarding socio-economic changes and techniques to improve already degraded terraces are discussed

Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi on a vineyard. The impact of a mycorrhiza-inoculated under-vine cover crop on grapevine performance and soil quality in a Portuguese vineyard

Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica / Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de LisboaGrapevine inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve their nutrient and water status and help them cope with abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the inoculation success depends on several factors, such as the host plant and AMF genotype, environmental conditions and the inoculation method. To test the potential benefits of grapevine AMF inoculation through mycelium donor plants (MDP), a three-year experiment was set in a vineyard planted in 2007 in Lisbon. Rye plants were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae and used as MDP, being established as under-vine cover crops. Another two under-vine management treatments were installed to compare the potential benefits of this inoculation system on grapevine nutrition, growth, physiology, yield, berry quality and soil properties: conventional vegetation management (CON), with regular herbicide applications on the row, and non-inoculated rye covers (NIRC). The inoculation of F. mosseae was successful. Soil from inoculated rye cover (IRC) plots had double and four times the mycorrhizal infective propagules than NIRC and CON plots, respectively. At plant nutrition level, only Fe differed among treatments, whose concentration diminished on grapevine leaves from IRC plots. At pre-harvest, when temperatures were highest and soil water lowest, grapevines from IRC plots had 50% higher photosynthetic rate and 70% higher stomatal conductance than NIRC and CON grapevines. The competition for water induced by the under-vine cover crops diminished the vigour of grapevines by half on their pruning wood weight, compared to CON grapevines, although without statistical significance. No significant effect on yield and berry quality was found, apart from a greater number of clusters from CON and IRC grapevines. Therefore, if correctly managed with adequate irrigation and frequent mowing to avoid excessive competition with grapevines, the use of inoculated under-vine cover crops can improve grapevine performance and offers a sustainable alternative to herbicide use in Mediterranean vineyards, without compromising yield or berry qualityN/