Cover Crop for a Sustainable Viticulture: Effects on Soil Properties and Table Grape Production

Gattullo, Concetta Eliana; Mezzapesa, Giuseppe Natale; Ferrara, Giuseppe; Occhiogrosso, G.; Petrelli, Giuseppe; Castellini, Mirko; Spagnuolo, Matteo

doi:10.3390/agronomy10091334

Cited by 45 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our results are in accordance with the literature. Numerous studies found a sharp increase in SOM under mulched groundcovers as compared to tilled soil [13,[66][67][68]. Still in agreement with our results, Novara et al (2020) found a very limited and non-significant increase in SOM following eight years of faba bean CC incorporated in spring.…”

Section: Effects Of Soil Management On Soil Biological Quality Indexsupporting

confidence: 92%

Groundcover Mulching in Mediterranean Vineyards Improves Soil Chemical, Physical and Biological Health Already in the Short Term

et al. 2021

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Vineyards are among the land uses with the highest soil degradation rate in Mediterranean Europe, mainly due to intensive tillage management. Therefore, practices able to foster soil health are critical to promote sustainable wine production. We studied the following treatments in two organic farms in Chianti Classico (Italy): conventional tillage, spontaneous vegetation, pigeon bean (Vicia faba var. minor) incorporated in spring and a mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and squarrosum clover (Trifolium squarrosum), both incorporated and left as mulch. An innovative approach, based on gamma-ray and apparent electrical conductivity, was used to account for the fine-scale soil variability that was included in the statistical model. Mulched groundcovers were associated with higher soil organic matter compared to tillage, already after two years. An increased N availability was found under all groundcovers compared with tillage. The effect of soil management practices on P2O5 strongly varied across farms and years, while it was not statistically significant on K availability. Spontaneous vegetation positively influenced the soil structure index, soil penetration resistance and soil biological health. The results show that mulched groundcovers can improve soil health already in the short term, thereby potentially increasing the sustainability of the wine sector.

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Section: Effects Of Soil Management On Soil Biological Quality Indexsupporting

confidence: 92%

Groundcover Mulching in Mediterranean Vineyards Improves Soil Chemical, Physical and Biological Health Already in the Short Term

et al. 2021

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“…Similar results were obtained in wine-producing regions in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil [65]. In the study by Gatullo et al [72], the SOC content in a table grape vineyard in southern Italy was 2.86 g kg −1 . Similar results were recorded by Dogan and Gülser [54] in a soil study in the Menderes district of Izmir, Turkey, where the SOC content was in the range of 2.70-14.91 g kg −1 .…”

Section: The Soc Content For Different Land Usessupporting

confidence: 81%

Topographic Position, Land Use and Soil Management Effects on Soil Organic Carbon (Vineyard Region of Niš, Serbia)

et al. 2021

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Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) is the result of a combination of various factors related to both the natural environment and anthropogenic activities. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the state of SOC in topsoil and subsoil of vineyards compared to the nearest forest, (ii) the influence of soil management on SOC, (iii) the variation in SOC content with topographic position, (iv) the intensity of soil erosion in order to estimate the leaching of SOC from upper to lower topographic positions, and (v) the significance of SOC for the reduction of soil’s susceptibility to compaction. The study area was the vineyard region of Niš, which represents a medium-sized vineyard region in Serbia. About 32% of the total land area is affected, to some degree, by soil erosion. However, according to the mean annual soil loss rate, the total area is classified as having tolerable erosion risk. Land use was shown to be an important factor that controls SOC content. The vineyards contained less SOC than forest land. The SOC content was affected by topographic position. The interactive effect of topographic position and land use on SOC was significant. The SOC of forest land was significantly higher at the upper position than at the middle and lower positions. Spatial distribution of organic carbon in vineyards was not influenced by altitude, but occurred as a consequence of different soil management practices. The deep tillage at 60–80 cm, along with application of organic amendments, showed the potential to preserve SOC in the subsoil and prevent carbon loss from the surface layer. Penetrometric resistance values indicated optimum soil compaction in the surface layer of the soil, while low permeability was observed in deeper layers. Increases in SOC content reduce soil compaction and thus the risk of erosion and landslides. Knowledge of soil carbon distribution as a function of topographic position, land use and soil management is important for sustainable production and climate change mitigation.

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“…This, in turn, decreases the mean residence time of soil C by almost 50%, with detrimental effects on long-term C sequestration in agricultural soils. In contrast, NT + CC was shown to enhance soil fertility, stabilize soil structure, and increase soil C and N storage [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. However, NT sometimes lead only to a soil C redistribution rather than a net C storage increase [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Impact of No-Till and Cover Crops with or without Short-Term Water Stress as Revealed by Physicochemical and Microbiological Indicators

Taskin

Boselli

Fiorini

et al. 2021

Biology

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Combining no-till and cover crops (NT + CC) as an alternative to conventional tillage (CT) is generating interest to build-up farming systems’ resilience while promoting climate change adaptation in agriculture. Our field study aimed to assess the impact of long-term NT + CC management and short-term water stress on soil microbial communities, enzymatic activities, and the distribution of C and N within soil aggregates. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) revealed the positive impact of NT + CC on microbial biodiversity, especially under water stress conditions, with the presence of important rhizobacteria (e.g., Bradyrhizobium spp.). An alteration index based on soil enzymes confirmed soil depletion under CT. C and N pools within aggregates showed an enrichment under NT + CC mostly due to C and N-rich large macroaggregates (LM), accounting for 44% and 33% of the total soil C and N. Within LM, C and N pools were associated to microaggregates within macroaggregates (mM), which are beneficial for long-term C and N stabilization in soils. Water stress had detrimental effects on aggregate formation and limited C and N inclusion within aggregates. The microbiological and physicochemical parameters correlation supported the hypothesis that long-term NT + CC is a promising alternative to CT, due to the contribution to soil C and N stabilization while enhancing the biodiversity and enzymes.

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Cover Crop for a Sustainable Viticulture: Effects on Soil Properties and Table Grape Production

Cited by 45 publications

References 39 publications

Groundcover Mulching in Mediterranean Vineyards Improves Soil Chemical, Physical and Biological Health Already in the Short Term

Groundcover Mulching in Mediterranean Vineyards Improves Soil Chemical, Physical and Biological Health Already in the Short Term

Topographic Position, Land Use and Soil Management Effects on Soil Organic Carbon (Vineyard Region of Niš, Serbia)

Combined Impact of No-Till and Cover Crops with or without Short-Term Water Stress as Revealed by Physicochemical and Microbiological Indicators

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