Sheep grazing as a strategy to manage cover crops in Mediterranean vineyards: Short-term effects on soil C, N and greenhouse gas (N2O, CH4, CO2) emissions

Lazcano, Cristina; Gonzalez-Maldonado, Noelymar; Yao, Erika H.; Wong, Connie T. F.; Merrilees, Jenna J.; Falcone, Mia; Peterson, Jean C. Dodson; Casassa, L. Federico; Decock, Charlotte

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2021.107825

Cited by 21 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Syrah (Dureza × Mondeuse Blanche) biodynamic commercial vineyard located in the Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA), San Luis Obispo County (California, USA). Te study was conducted in parallel to a two-year grazing and tillage trial as described in Lazcano et al [37]. Te climate in the area is Mediterranean with an annual average temperature of 15.3 °C, average annual rainfall of 364 mm, and two well-diferentiated seasons, the dry (April-October) and the wet season (November-March) (Figure 1).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Management of the experimental plots included compost and cover crop seed broadcasting in Autumn each year during the wet seasons; mowing of the cover crop in the Autumn and Spring during the wet season when the cover crop reached sufcient height (30 cm approx.) (as described in [37]. Till plots were tilled a total of four times (November 2018, May 2019, November 2019, and May 2020) using a three-point ofset disk to 10-25 cm depth, with two tractor passes in each event.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we evaluated the short-term efects of transitioning to no-till on the yield and quality of Syrah grapes, soil C and N pools, soil biophysical properties, and greenhouse gas emissions in a biodynamically-managed vineyard. Tis study builds on the study by Lazcano et al [37]; which evaluated the combined efects of sheep grazing and tillage on soil C and GHG emissions during a 2-year period. We hypothesized that, after three years, no-tilled soils would show higher soil organic matter, active C aggregate stability, and infltration rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the Short-Term Effects of No-Till on Crop Yield, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Soil C and N Pools in a Cover-Cropped, Biodynamic Mediterranean Vineyard

Lazcano

Gonzalez-Maldonado

Yao

et al. 2022

Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research

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Background and Aims. No-till is considered a core practice of conservation and climate-smart agriculture. Nevertheless, recent evidence suggests that the benefits of this practice for climate change mitigation might be overestimated, particularly in the short term. Methods and Results. In a three-year field experiment, we investigated the environmental and agronomic performance of this practice by looking at changes in soil physical properties, C and N pools, as well as vine yield and grape quality. No-till increased stratification in the distribution of active soil C (POXC), further accentuating the already existing difference between top and subsoil. No-till also slightly reduced the daily efflux of CO2 from the soil during the rainy season, showing that these plots were less prone to lose C than tilled plots. Nonetheless, no-till did not increase total soil C stocks. This, together with the lack of differences in cumulative N2O emissions, resulted in similar global warming potential in till and no-till plots. Vine yield and grape quality remained unchanged in the no-till compared to the tilled plots. Conclusions. Even though no-till did not result in short-term climate change mitigation, results of this study suggest changes in the ecological processes leading to C accumulation and mineralization and that may result in future C sequestration. There were no deleterious effects of no-till on grape yield and quality. Significance of the Study. This study shows that reducing tillage intensity in vineyards is a feasible strategy from an agronomic standpoint.

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Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the Short-Term Effects of No-Till on Crop Yield, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Soil C and N Pools in a Cover-Cropped, Biodynamic Mediterranean Vineyard

Lazcano

Gonzalez-Maldonado

Yao

et al. 2022

Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research

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“…Whether and to what extent these presumed potentials are activated surely depends on various influencing factors. Such factors are, for example, the duration of grazing, the grazing period, the accompanying vegetation or a possible additional tillage [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While today grazing with sheep can be observed more frequently in the winegrowing areas outside the growing season [ 9 , 12 ], the success of grazing during the growing season relies on various conditions and requires relevant know-how. However, there is currently a high level of interest in this model of land use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sheep in the Vineyard: Suitability of Different Breeds and Potential Breeding Objectives

Conrad

Hörl

Henke

et al. 2022

Animals

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Protecting a breed of sheep is simple when there is demand for its breed traits, but new market options are often hard to find. In general, grazing sheep are able to take over some viticultural work. Here, we address a new and promising integrated crop-livestock system that involves the integration of sheep in the vineyard during the growing season. Using sheep in a vineyard entails opportunities but also risks, such as the current lack of information, specifically in relation to breed traits. In our survey, we evaluated 26 breeds for their suitability for grazing as long as possible in Central European vineyards during the growing season. First, the breed traits required were identified. Then, 94 flock book breeders were interviewed about specific breed traits. The height of a sheep’s muzzle is particularly important for assessing the suitability of a breed, as it defines the potential impact on the foliage area during the growing season. To determine the height of the muzzle, 179 flock book animals were measured. We found that the most important breeding objective for a new breed of sheep is the inability to stand on two legs. Adult animals of the breed Shropshire, and among these especially the shorter-legged Danish type, and Southdown, show a widespread inability to stand on two legs. Ouessant sheep are able to do so, yet are suitable with some limitations. Due to their extraordinarily small size, their reach is limited, as is their grazing performance. Thus, three of the 26 breeds studied here seem suitable for use in the most widespread vine training systems of Central Europe during the growing season. Targeted breeding could further improve the suitability of sheep for viticulture. Our findings could help to protect breeds and breed traits.

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The Ecology of Intercropping Systems, Tree‐Cover Dynamics of Grazing Lands, and Cover Crops for Soil Management

Kumar

Singh²,

Joshi

et al. 2023

Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management

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Sheep grazing as a strategy to manage cover crops in Mediterranean vineyards: Short-term effects on soil C, N and greenhouse gas (N2O, CH4, CO2) emissions

Cited by 21 publications

References 72 publications

Assessing the Short-Term Effects of No-Till on Crop Yield, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Soil C and N Pools in a Cover-Cropped, Biodynamic Mediterranean Vineyard

Assessing the Short-Term Effects of No-Till on Crop Yield, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Soil C and N Pools in a Cover-Cropped, Biodynamic Mediterranean Vineyard

Sheep in the Vineyard: Suitability of Different Breeds and Potential Breeding Objectives

The Ecology of Intercropping Systems, Tree‐Cover Dynamics of Grazing Lands, and Cover Crops for Soil Management

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