Groundcovers and mulches for sustainable vineyard floor management

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2014-01-01T08:00:00Z

The objectives of this research were to identify alternatives to glyphosate for in-row vineyard floor management and to evaluate the potential for in-row and alleyway groundcovers to reduce vegetative vigor of `Marquette' vines in a southeast Nebraska vineyard. The experiment was a randomized factorial design with 5 in-row treatments (crushed glass [CG], distillers' grain [DG], creeping red fescue [CRF], non-sprayed control, and glyphosate) and 3 alleyway treatments (creeping red fescue [CRF], Kentucky bluegrass [BG], and resident vegetation). Treatment plots were established in 2010-2011 and measurements were conducted during 2012 and 2013. Soil temperature was mostly higher under mulches and lower under in-row groundcovers, compared to glyphosate. Groundcovers generally had lower in-row soil water content than glyphosate; soil water content was higher under DG but lower under CG in 2013. Treatment effects on vine vigor were inconclusive. None of the treatments differed in vine water potential or shoot length. The BG and CRF alleyway treatments had higher pruning weights in 2012, compared to resident vegetation. Leaf layer number was higher in DG in-row plots, relative to glyphosate. Yield and fruit composition results were also inconclusive. In 2012 the treatments did not differ in yield, berry weight, Brix or pH. In 2013 CG and SC had higher juice Brix than CRF, and there were significant alleyway X in-row treatment interactions for yield and berry weight. In 2013 CRF and non-sprayed control fruit had lower juice pH than glyphosate, CG and DG. Titratable acidity did not differ between treatments in either year.

Agronomy|Horticulture|Sustainability; text

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897510301

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