Vineyards are living beings and, like any living thing, they require adequate nutrients on a constant basis. We, for example, need different vitamins, but taking them as a routine every morning is not the same as taking them only when we're sick. Doctors recommend an optimal daily diet so that the body has a healthy balance, however, depending on genetics, age, health conditions, etc., sometimes achieving that balance is not so simple. Almost all of us have basic information about the nutrients we need to live – iron carries oxygen to the entire body, calcium is essential to strengthen bones, magnesium is very important for the heart, teeth and bones, etc. The vineyard works the same way. However, we can study the specific requirements of its soil and the environment that surrounds it, thus discovering which are the ideal nutrients for each specific vineyard. There are different ways to fertilize vineyards with good nutrients, but there are also plants that nourish each other. I mentioned in the last newsletter about the practice of “The Three Sisters,” Here , it involves planting beans, squash, and corn together – important staples of the American diet for centuries. Today, I want to talk about what symbiotic practices are for nurturing a vineyard and helping it grow in the healthiest way possible. Cover crops are a powerful agricultural tool used to improve soil health, control erosion, and manage biodiversity in vineyards.
I've spoken before about the importance of health and maintaining a balance in living organisms over time. An elderly person who maintains good health achieves a special goal, because in old age he/she will still be active and full of experiences. For a vineyard it's the same, the longest-lived, most balanced and healthy will produce the best wine. Young vines can produce fruit, but they will never achieve the exceptional quality of wine that comes from old, well-nourished vines and of course, to achieve this, sustainable soil management is key to their success and longevity.
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The Red Clover Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors
A sustainable path to healthy management is to plant cover crops between the vines with plants that benefit the vineyard. Implementing cover crops is a smart investment for a more resilient, productive, and ecologically balanced vineyard. The most common are legumes because they fix nitrogen in the soil. Through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their roots, legumes convert nitrogen from the air into a form usable by plants. Legumes, such as alfalfa, clover, and vetch are a popular choice for winegrowers. This also helps with the reduction of chemical fertilizers because it decreases the need for external nitrogen fertilizers, and improves soil structure; their deep roots help to loosen the soil and improve water infiltration. Nitrogen is abundant in the air, but until it is fixed in the soil, it is not usable by the vine. Knowing that this is a crucial element for carrying out the photosynthesis process and also for the ability for yeasts to complete the fermentation and not leave any residual sugar in the wine, legumes are valuable crops in any vineyard.
Grasses help with erosion control and soil stability: Rye, barley, and oats offer an excellent source of potassium (an essential element that can increase yields and also for the growth of indigenous yeast on grape skins), which provides erosion protection and improves water retention in the soil. They also increase the production of organic matter. When decomposed, these plants have a rich carbon base and enrich the soil with essential nutrients.
Ryegrass Source: https://brettyoung.ca/seed-production/perennial-ryegrass/
Cruciferous plants, such as radish, have roots that penetrate deep into the soil. The robust roots break up compacted soil layers, improving aeration. These plants effectively compete with weeds and control pests and nematodes. Some cruciferous plants release bioactive compounds that help control harmful organisms in the soil.
In the end, one of the most important reasons to plant cover crops is for the flowers they produce. Grapevines do not require bees to pollinate. They are self-pollinating. However, there are several beneficial insects that like the flowers of cover crops and kill invasive species such as spider mites and mealybugs among others. Plants that are especially beneficial in attracting the attention of these beneficial insects are clover, buckwheat, and alder.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was a response to the increasing use of synthetic pesticides after World War II. Its development was driven by the need to sustainably manage agricultural pests, avoiding the negative effects of excessive chemical use, pest resistance and environmental damage. However, these practices were focused more on controlling pests and not so much on nutrients.
The fundamental difference between cover crops and IPM lies in their purpose and approach within sustainable agricultural practices. Both concepts are related to vineyard health, but their specific objectives are different.
All of these concepts are really based on the idea of biodiversity and its benefits. Less than 200 years ago, there were no herbicides or pesticides. There were natural ways to help with pollination or try to kill an insect that was decimating an orchard. It has been common knowledge for millennia that a vineyard or orchard will be healthier when there are other plants that feed and benefit from each other. The practice of monoculture is very recent and we have already seen the havoc it can wreak. Having hundreds or thousands of hectares dedicated to one type of crop can spread any pest in a very short time. It can kill hundreds of thousands of plants in a couple of weeks and in the case of vineyards, a pest (such as phylloxera or Pierce's disease) can pass from one neighbor to another in less than a season. In these cases there are few remedies, so it's crucial to maintain healthy soils in order to give the vines all the nutrients possible and thus increase their resistance. This is part of the IPM theory but there are also other concepts for each type of sustainable agriculture, from IPM to organic and even biodynamic.
Cover crops are primarily used to improve soil, manage nutrients, and contribute to the overall sustainability of the farm. The strategic use of cover crops in vineyards not only improves soil health and vine productivity, but also contributes to a more sustainable approach to viticulture. Selecting the right crop should be based on the specific goals of the vineyard and the local soil and climate conditions. From legumes that act as “living fertilizers,” and grasses that provide moisture, air, and strengthen roots and soil, to IPM that implements more sustainable strategies, biodiversity improves the quality of the soil and environment surrounding a vineyard, and cover crops are one of the first to nourish the vineyard.
