Mulching under the row in vineyards
In viticulture, this technique consists of covering the soil surface with an organic cover (mulch) or a plant-based fabric. Mulching can be done under the row or over the entire plot (except with fabric). Mulching under the row can be considered as an alternative to chemical weeding of the row. In the inter-row, it also helps reduce the need for soil tillage to destroy weeds. Soil cover has the advantage of protecting the soil against climatic aggressions and erosion.
This technique was experimented within the SolAB project, led by ITAB, aiming at an alternative to mechanical maintenance for weed control in organic viticulture. The experiment was conducted on the row from 2010 to 2013 on 3 trial sites, once the limit of mulch effectiveness was reached. Its results (available here in detail) should be considered cautiously due to the short duration of the experiment: it was observed that mulches influenced the soil (water and nitrogen availability, soil temperature protection) and these consequences should be taken into account before deciding on use at the plot scale.
Details on the technique:
- Organic cover mulch
It is necessary to spread at least 5 cm of mulch to limit weed development, using a forage harvester, a mounted spreader, or even by hand for cereal straw.
Within the SolAB project, mulches of compressed cereal straw, hemp shives, and chestnut bark were tested. No maintenance is required once the mulch is in place. However, crust formation is observed from the first rain.
The degradation of organic materials is rapid and it is not possible to expect presence beyond 2 years before complete degradation of hemp shives and chestnut bark mulches.
- Mulching with fabric
There are biodegradable plant-based or bioplastic fabrics on the market, preferred over non-biodegradable films. Fabrics must be laid using a unroller, preferably before vine planting to avoid damaging the plants. Depending on their thickness, their lifespan ranges from 2 to 4 years.
The fabric should be kept on the surface and covered with soil when it no longer provides covering effect.
Implementation period On established crop
At planting
Mulching can be done before planting for biodegradable fabric installation or on mature plots for mulch.
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Application of the technique to...
All soil types: Easily generalizable
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable
Regulation
No knowledge
2. Services provided by the technique
Regulation and weed management
Installing a mulch limits weed development on the plot by creating a physical barrier to their emergence. This effect is limited in time and requires regular renewal of the mulch.
Effect level: MEDIUM if used alone, to be combined
Confidence index: MEDIUM
COMPLEMENTARY TECHNIQUE(S)
Practice total grass cover in vine
Inter-row grass cover in orchard
INCOMPATIBLE TECHNIQUE(S)
Physical stability and soil structuring
The covering power of mulches helps limit soil erosion.
Effect level: MEDIUM if used alone, to be combined
Confidence index: MEDIUM
COMPLEMENTARY TECHNIQUE(S)
INCOMPATIBLE TECHNIQUE(S)
3. Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on air quality: Increasing
Reduction in herbicide use and their transfer to surface and groundwater.
Effect on water quality: Increasing
Reduction in herbicide use and transfers to water
Effect on fossil resource consumption: Decreasing
There is a reduction in energy consumption compared to a reference itinerary with mechanical weeding. Indeed, once installed, mulching generates no further cost as long as it allows adequate weed control.
"Agronomic" criteria
Water stress: Decreasing
Due to its mulch and covering effect, mulching tends to retain soil moisture longer by limiting evaporation. During the experiment conducted by the SolAB network, applied mulches allowed a temperature gain of up to 2 °C under the mulch (case of the 2011 vintage).
"Economic" criteria
Operational costs: Variable
If the mulch is not produced on the farm (as straw can be), the purchase cost must be compared to the costs of saved herbicides and fuel. Its cost is amortized over its lifespan.
In the SolAB experiment, references provide a cost range between 730 and 1830 euros/ha/year for a 3-year lifespan (versus 320 euros/ha/year for mechanical inter-plant weeding, IFV references).
Mechanization costs: Variable
Soil cover limits soil tillage and chemical weeding operations on the plot. However, mulching must be renewed regularly, incurring spreading costs.
Margin: Decreasing
Mulching remains more costly than chemical weeding. It facilitates work for nurseries but is more complex to implement on already established vines.
"Social" criteria
Work organization: Increasing
Mulches are particularly interesting for soil maintenance in organic vine nurseries due to the simplification of work organization they provide.
4. Favored or disadvantaged organisms
Favored Bioagressors
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged Bioagressors
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| weeds | MEDIUM | weeds |
Favored Auxiliaries
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged Auxiliaries
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
|---|
Favored climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
|---|
Disadvantaged climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
|---|
5. For further information
- Implementation of under-row mulching as a weed control solution in viticulture
- -Gontier L., Gaviglio C.
IFV, Technical brochure
Another document presenting the experiment results
- Straw spreading as soil maintenance
- -Delbecque X.
REUSSIR Vine, Press article, 2015
- Mulching and grass cover on the row in viticulture
- -Goma-Fortin N., Gontier L., Gaviglio C., Chovelon M., Malet O.
ALTER AGRI n°116, Press article, 2012
- Mulching as an alternative to soil tillage, ongoing trial at Domaine de la Pousse d’Or in Burgundy
- -Lactuduvin, Website, 2017
6. Keywords
Bioagressor control method: Physical control
Mode of action: Barrier
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use:
Annexes
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