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Subject

Cover Crop Effects

Description

Nodule section shows reddish color; nitrogen fixation is active.

Cover crops have direct and indirect effects on soil fertility and vine nutrition. Incorporation of leguminous green manure cover crops directly adds organic nitrogen to the soil. After mineralization, which begins within weeks after incorporation, this nitrogen is available for vine uptake. In contrast, nonleguminous cover crops often place competing demands on the vineyard nitrogen pool. Decomposition of high-carbon plants such as cereals and grasses may tie up nitrogen, making it unavailable for vines.

The community of organisms that lives in soil plays many important roles in the successful functioning of agricultural ecosystems. This community consists of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes (predators of microorganisms and pathogens of plants), earthworms, arthropods, and others. The importance of soil organisms is often ignored and may be masked and diminished in tilled farming systems that rely on synthetic fertilizers, high levels of pesticides, and minimal inputs of carbon.

Cover cropping is only one of many erosion control practices that should be used on steep hillside vineyards. Vegetative cover plays a vital role in controlling erosion. Cover crop biomass production and subsequent decomposition can improve soil characteristics, increasing the amount of water that can infiltrate the soil. This improvement, however, can come at the expense of increased water use. It is important to choose a cover crop and associated management proactices that provide the best array of benefits.

People

Donna Hirschfelt
Terry Prichard
Charlette Sanders
Kate Scow
Lisa Woo Shanks
Matthew Werner

Links

Vineyard Cover Crop Trial

Adobe/Macromedia Breeze Presenter modules provide on-demand viewing of previously recorded PowerPoint presentations with streaming video and audio on the Web. They feature high-quality still images with synchronized audio and video; automatic playback or manual navigation; and a keyword search of slide text and notes. As Flash movies they are platform independent, but they do require Flash Player 6 or higher, which is currently installed on most computers. These modules were produced by UC Davis IET Mediaworks. The speaker and presentation may be viewed in video on the following links:

Winegrapes Cover Crops Competition for Water Dr. Terry Prichard, Cooperative Extension Irrigation Water Management Specialist, Department of Air, Land and Water Resouces, UC Davis. Presented at Recent Advances in Viticulture and Enology (RAVE) March 16, 2006, UC Davis.

Publications

Hirschfelt, D. 1998. Soil Fertility and Vine Nutrition (PDF). Pages 61-68 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, eds. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Prichard, T. 1998. Water Use and Infiltration (PDF). Pages 86-90 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, eds. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Scow, K. and Werner, M. 1998. Soil Ecology (PDF). Pages 69-79 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, eds. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

Shanks, L., Moore, D., and Sanders, C. 1998. Soil Erosion (PDF). Pages 80-85 in Cover Cropping in Vineyards: A Grower's Handbook. Ingels et al, eds. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Buy Book

This website is a work in progress of the University of California (UC) Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANR) Integrated Grape Production Workgroup. It is designed to increase accessability to the work of UC researchers, including faculty, Cooperative Extension (CE) specialists, CE advisors, and staff. UC Researchers interested in contributing content are invited to contact Deborah Golino dagolino@ucdavis.edu to discuss possible contributions.