Groundcovers and mulches for sustainable vineyard floor management

TL;DRAbstract

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

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