Effect of seeding date on the performance of grasses and broadleaf species evaluated for cover crop management in two wine grape regions of South Africa

Cover Crop Management in a Chardonnay/99 Richter Vineyard in the Coastal Region, South Africa. 2. Effect of Different Cover Crops and Cover Crop Management Practices on Grapevine Performance

“…The trial was conducted in a Chardonnay/99 Richter vineyard trained on a hedge trellis system (Booysen, Steenkamp & Archer, 1992) and established on a medium textured soil (18% clay) at the Nietvoorbij research farm near Stellenbosch (33°55'S, 18°52'E). Irrigation was scheduled according to the guideline supplied by Fourie et al (2001) for the first ten weeks (April to mid-June) after the cover crops were sown. No irrigation was applied from mid-June to midSeptember.…”

“…The use of cover crops in vineyards reduces water runoff and erosion (Louw & Bennie, 1992) restricts evaporation from the soil surface (Van Huyssteen et al, 1984), conserves soil water (Buckerfield & Webster, 1996), and reduces temperature fluctuations in the soil (Van Huyssteen et al, 1984). It is also a non-specific method of pre-emergence weed control (Fourie et al, 2001;Van Huyssteen et al, 1984) and has the ability to suppress both winter-and summer-growing weeds (Fourie et al, 2005;Fourie et al, 2006). Van Huyssteen and Weber (1980) found that grape production and pruning mass were significantly affected by the soil cultivation practice applied in a non-irrigated Chenin blanc vineyard established on a medium textured soil.…”

Cover Crop Management in a Chardonnay/99 Richter Vineyard in the Coastal Wine Grape Region, South Africa. 1. Effect of Two Management Practices on Selected Grass and Broadleaf Species

“…The difference in climate between regions, as well as the spectrum of winter growing weeds in a specific region, has an effect on the performance of a cover crop species (Fourie et al, 2001). A selection of species suitable for cover crop management in the different grapevine regions is required in order to apply this environment friendly practice in a sustainable manner, as part of an integrated production strategy (Fourie et al, 2001).…”

“…A selection of species suitable for cover crop management in the different grapevine regions is required in order to apply this environment friendly practice in a sustainable manner, as part of an integrated production strategy (Fourie et al, 2001). In this regard it was indicated that Secale cereale L. (rye), two Avena (oat) species and Triticale v. Usgen 18 (triticale) could be considered for cover crop management on the medium textured soils of the Coastal wine grape region, situated in the winter rainfall region of South Africa (Fourie et al, 2001).…”

“…A selection of species suitable for cover crop management in the different grapevine regions is required in order to apply this environment friendly practice in a sustainable manner, as part of an integrated production strategy (Fourie et al, 2001). In this regard it was indicated that Secale cereale L. (rye), two Avena (oat) species and Triticale v. Usgen 18 (triticale) could be considered for cover crop management on the medium textured soils of the Coastal wine grape region, situated in the winter rainfall region of South Africa (Fourie et al, 2001). They also indicated that three Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover) species, four Medicago (medic) species, three Vicia (vetch) species and Ornithopus sativus L. v. Emena (pink Seradella) should be included in further studies to determine whether the norm of eight t/ha of dry matter, considered by Van Huyssteen et al (1984) to be necessary for the effective control of summer growing weeds, was applicable to these species under the edaphic conditions of the Coastal region.…”