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

Abstract

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.

Ground vegetation covers increase grape yield and must quality in Mediterranean organic vineyards despite variable effects on vine water deficit and nitrogen status

“…On the other hand, tillage did not provoke N stress in spring but may have stimulated a quick N mineralization of the few N input provided by the low weed biomass. Tillage was already reported to decrease total soil N as compared with CC (Steenwerth and Belina, 2008), and also in our trial we found lower total N under CT following harvest compared with groundcovers (Warren Raffa et al, 2021). As a result, the progressive depletion of soil N pool across the experimental years may have reduced yields under CT.…”

“…The second dataset, hereafter called the" soil parameters dataset", contained the data on gravel, clay, sand, silt, K, Mg, SOM and total limestone. Details on the analytical methods, elaboration of soil maps and related analyses can be found in Warren Raffa et al (2021).…”

A Modified Version of RothC to Model the Direct and Indirect Effects of Rice Straw Mulching on Soil Carbon Dynamics, Calibrated in Two Valencian Citrus Orchards

“…The biomass from organic mulches is a matter and energy source for soil organisms, which increases their activity and encourages the binding of organic matter and particles of soil into macroand micro-aggregates [36], leading to an enhancement in the aggregate stability, restoration of stable C, and, finally, improvement in the SOC content and soil carbon sequestration [37]. The indirect effects are due to changes in soil temperature and water content due to mulch application [38], which can result in changes in root growth and soil ecology and are especially relevant in Mediterranean climates [39][40][41].…”

Testing of Roller-Crimper-and-Undercutting-Blade-Equipped Prototype for Plants Termination

“…This practice, which consists in covering the soil with organic or synthetic material, prevents weed seeds' germination and emerging seedlings' growth, while favoring water conservation and avoiding temperature fluctuations [4]. Among the available strategies, the termination of cover crops and spontaneous vegetation and the maintenance of their residues as dead mulch on the soil surface (i.e., without disturbing the soil) represents a promising solution that can also improve soil quality by increasing the organic matter content [5,6]. In no-till-based arable and vegetable cropping systems, this practice is usually carried out prior to or simultaneously with cash crop planting, which can take place by means of no-till drills, planters, or transplanters [7][8][9][10].…”