Cover crop response to increased concentrations of copper in vineyard soils: Implications for copper phytoextraction

The Sebou River Basin is vital for Moroccan agriculture, particularly in terms of producing industrial crops, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil. It is especially significant in viticulture, accounting for 80% and 60% of the national production area for wine and table grapes, respectively. However, the prevalence of diseases and pests requires extensive pesticide application in vineyards. This study aims to assess the impact of pesticides used in vineyards on the environment, human health and their associated sustainability. Agro-environmental indicators were evaluated across 30 vineyards covering 1197 hectares. Results show an average treatment frequency of 24.05 applications per growing cycle, the highest among grape-producing countries, with 77.94% being fungicides. The Quantity of Active Substances Indicator (QASI) reveals a high pesticide application rate of 44.60 Kg a.i./ha. Over 50% of chemicals are classified as “hazardous” based on the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ). A Pesticide Environmental Risk Indicator model (PERI) identifies three active ingredients with a high Environmental Risk Score (>5). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) reveals that copper sulfate has significant environmental impacts compared to Mancozeb and sulfur. These findings highlight the extensive use of pesticides in vineyards, posing challenges to long-term sustainable agriculture due to associated environmental and health risks.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability Indicators for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Plant Protection Products Use in Moroccan Vineyards

Aoujil,

Litskas,

Yahyaoui

et al. 2024

“…Furthermore, Guzmán et al [149] also found in a survey of 16 vineyards in a hilly area in Southern Spain that cover crops, either spontaneous or sown, significantly increased SOM in the 0-10 cm layer from 1.4 to 1.8%, i.e., a +29% increase, as compared to bare soil, after three years of cover crop establishment. Away from the sloping Mediterranean vineyards, Fleishman et al [152] found in Pennsylvania a significant increase in SOM from 3.8 to 5.2%, i.e., a +37% increase, in the 0-20 cm layer, after four years of cover crop establishment [153,154].…”

Section: Dynamics Of Winegrowing Systems and Levels Of Soil Organic M...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, for mitigation of the Cu issue, cover crops have some potential in the remediation of vineyard soils [153]. Particularly, in non-calcareous soils, which are the most Cu-troublesome, cover crops featuring crimson clover seem the most promising since they have been found able to extract more than 0.1 kg Cu ha −1 for one year from soils containing between 80 and 160 mg Cu kg −1 [154]. Note that this range corresponds to between 20 and 70 kg Cu ha −1 if one takes the layer from 0 to 20 cm and a bulk density of 1.5 g cm −3 .…”

Section: Copper-based Phytosanitary Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health of Vineyard Soils: Towards a Sustainable Viticulture

Visconti,

López,

Olego

2024

Soil health encompasses the effects the uppermost part of the land have on human wellbeing in a broad sense, because soil is where most food ultimately comes from, and because it more inconspicuously fulfils other ecological functions, as important as feeding, for our planet’s welfare, which is ours. Viticulture exploits the soil’s resources from which wine, its most valuable produce, boasts to obtain some of its unique quality traits, which are wrapped within the terroir concept. However, using conventional methods, viticulture also has harsh impacts on the soil, thus jeopardizing its sustainability. How long will the terroir expression remain unchanged as vineyard soil degradation goes on? While this question is difficult to answer because of the complex nature of terroirs, it is undeniable that conventional soil management practices in viticulture leave, in general, ample room for improvement, in their impact on vineyards as much as on the environment. In response, viticulture must adopt practices that enable the long-lasting preservation of its grounds for both on-farm and off-farm benefits. In this regard, the increase in the soil’s organic matter alongside the enhancement of the soil’s biological community are key because they benefit many other soil properties of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, thus determining the soil’s healthy functioning, where the vines may thrive for a long time, whereas its surroundings remain minimally disturbed. In the present review, the importance of soil health as it relates to vineyards is discussed, the soil degradation factors and processes that threaten winegrowing areas are presented, successful soil-health enhancement practices are shown, and future research trends are identified for the benefit of researchers and stakeholders in this special agricultural industry.

“…The accumulation of Cu in the soil can have harmful effects on future crops established in the same area or on crops established in nearby areas. The high copper content in the soil can be toxic to plants, including wild plants or cover crops grown in vineyards [22]. This can potentially affect the plants due to the presence of high levels of Cu in the soil [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Growth Assessment of Lolium perenne L. as a Cover Crop for Management of Copper Accumulation in Galician Vineyard Soils

Vázquez-Blanco,

Arias-Estévez,

Fernández-Calviño

et al. 2023

This study investigates the potential use of Lolium perenne L. as a cover crop to improve vineyard soils with varying levels of copper (Cu). Cu-based fungicides are commonly used to control fungal diseases in vineyards, but their accumulation in soils poses environmental risks. This study aims to address this issue by evaluating the influence of soil properties on Cu availability and L. perenne growth. A total of 42 vineyard soils from different Designations of Origin (D.O.s) in Galicia were sampled and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The results showed most soils exceeded recommended Cu limits due to fungicide applications. Pot experiments were conducted to assess L. perenne growth and Cu accumulation. L. perenne biomass did not vary significantly with total soil Cu content, indicating that other factors such as organic matter and cation exchange capacity were more important for plant growth. While L. perenne showed Cu tolerance, its aerial Cu accumulation was inversely correlated with available Cu. This study provides insight into the potential of L. perenne as a cover crop for sustainable vineyard management and soil improvement and emphasizes the importance of considering Cu accumulation from fungicide applications.