Cover Crops Affect Performance of Organic Scarlotta Seedless Table Grapes Under Plastic Film Covering in Southern Italy

Luigi Tarricone,Giovanni Gentilesco,Francesco Montemurro,Gianvito Masi,Giambattista Debiase

doi:10.3390/agronomy10040550

Luigi Tarricone, Giovanni Gentilesco + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040550

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Abstract

In sustainable or organic vineyard systems, the introduction of cover crops could represent a powerful tool for farmers to influence, positively, the agro-ecosystem by promoting the whole soil-plant system equilibrium. Concerning table grape production, nitrogen fertilizers are medium-high; for environmental aspects, organic viticulturists are more interested in legume inter-row cover crops. Research on cover crop effects was carried out in 2015–2016, on organic table grapes (the Sugranineteen variety) in Mediterranean conditions. Three inter-row soil management techniques were compared: (TR) inter-row spacing was cultivated with subterranean clover; (V) inter-row spacing with common vetch incorporated in the soil as green manure, and (RC) inter-row spacing with common vetch flattened by the roller crimper technique, making a living mulch. No significant difference was recorded in grapevine water status among the treatments. RC vines performed the highest net photosynthesis rate from shoot growth to veràison. Cover crops did not affect cluster weight, berry weight, and juice composition; however, they influenced berry detachment force. Our research findings confirmed that legume cover crops (subterranean clover and common vetch) increased soil organic matter and could represent an economic and sustainable soil use to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers applied in table grape production.

Highlights

In the last years, vineyard inter-row soil management through mechanical tillage in viticulture has substantially decreased
No significant difference was found among soil management treatments on vegetative and productive parameters of Sugranineteen vines (Table S3); the cover crops did not influence grapevine bud fertility
Considering that different parameters, such as light conditions, temperature, grapevine water status, and mineral nutrition are the main factors affecting the formation of grapevine inflorescences during season, no negative action correlated to cover crops was identified [18]

Summary

Introduction

Vineyard inter-row soil management through mechanical tillage in viticulture has substantially decreased. The inter-row cover crops (permanent or temporary) determine the reduction of water runoff, prevent soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, and microbial activity [1]. Research data from South Africa’s vineyards confirmed that, by using grazing vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) as a cover crop on sandy soil, the organic matter content increased in the 300 to 600 mm soil layer after a period of ten years, whereas frequent vineyard clean cultivation reduced the organic matter content [3]. Other results found by Fourier [4] confirmed that cover crops versus soil tillage determine, as much as 86%, more organic matter content as compared to tillage treatment in the 0 to 150 mm soil layer after a medium period. In a warm Mediterranean climate, where soil organic carbon matter content is Agronomy 2020, 10, 550; doi:10.3390/agronomy10040550 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy

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