Planting Cover Crops in Vineyards

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Technical articles - Soil and fertilization
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Green manure between two rows of vines


The establishment of green manure in vineyards consists of sowing a cover crop at the end of summer or in autumn in the inter-rows, which will develop strongly in spring before being destroyed; the cover crop is not intended for harvest. Technical aspects must be carefully considered to benefit from the expected positive effects on the soil without negative consequences for the vine. This practice is distinct from permanent grass cover, which consists of maintaining a permanent soil cover (see technical sheet Practicing total grass cover in vineyards).


Choice of species

The choice of cover crop must be made according  to:

  • The reasons leading to this practice,
  • The desired type of development (rapid, easy to destroy...),
  • The type of soil (water resources and mineral reserves),
  • The budget allocated to this practice,
  • The situation of the plot,
  • The qualitative and quantitative objectives of the harvest (yields and desired wine types).


Cover crops and green manure in organic viticulture[1]


Green manures are distinguished by their ability to provide "slow" carbon (as in grasses) or "fast" carbon (as in crucifers or legumes, which also provide nitrogen). Species can be used pure or in mixtures, to have a balanced formulation between slow carbon, fast carbon, and nitrogen ensuring proper degradation of organic matter by microorganisms.

There is no universal cover crop suitable for all soil types, so species choice must be thoughtful, but some rules can guide this choice. Selected plants should :

  • Have rapid development,
  • Be inexpensive in seeds,
  • Have a strong root system,
  • Be undemanding,
  • Have a late seed setting,
  • Be easy to destroy.

Grasses

Rye

Rye

  • Advantages : Powerful fibrous root system, adapted to wet and acidic conditions.
  • Limitations : Beware of root exudates inhibiting germination of other plants.
  • Sowing period : August to October.
  • Seeding rate : 40-90 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity.
  • Dry matter production : 3-8 T/ha.
Winter oat

Oat

  • Advantages :
    • Powerful fibrous root system, robust, easy to establish.
    • Impact on certain nematodes (Meloidogyne & Pratylenchus).
    • Good competition against weeds, plant with allelopathic effect that can inhibit germination of some dicotyledons.
    • Good soil structuring at 0-25cm and increased load-bearing capacity.
    • Cheap seeds and easy sowing, with possible broadcast sowing.
    • Good behavior in mixtures : supports Fabaceae (vetch, pea, …).
  • Limitations :
    • Mechanical destruction often complicated because the plant can regrow.
    • If sown too early, biomass losses may occur due to attacks by rust or aphids.
    • It is preferable to associate it with a legume to avoid nitrogen deficiency.
    • High water needs, oat can compete with the vine by drawing from the useful reserve if spring is dry
  • Sowing period : September to October.
  • Seeding rate : 70-100 kg/ha (120 kg/ha for late sowing).
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity (-13°C).
  • Dry matter production : 3-6 T/ha.
  • Cost : 20-30 €/ha.
Triticale ear

Triticale

  • Advantages : Hybrid of wheat & rye, well resistant to hydromorphic conditions, fibrous root system. Robust and easy to establish.
  • Sowing period : September to October.
  • Seeding rate : 100 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : sensitive.
  • Dry matter production : 5-10 T/ha.
Barley

Barley

  • Advantages :
    • Root exudates limiting the activity of Phytophthora.
    • Strong surface soil restructuring, prevents erosion.
    • Rapid and smothering cover against weeds plus an allelopathic effect.
    • Cheap seeds.
    • Easy establishment including in dry conditions, possibility of no-till sowing.
    • Good resistance to drought and frost (-15°C).
  • Limitations :
  • Sowing period : September to October.
  • Seeding rate : 160-200 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity.
  • Dry matter production : 3-6 T/ha.

Legumes

Crimson clover

Crimson clover

  • Advantages :
    • Annual plant with taproot.
    • Very good growth in cool soils without waterlogging, but also very adaptable in dry areas.
    • Tolerates clay soils & soils poor in organic matter (OM).
    • Stimulates soil biological activity by producing root exudates.
    • Fixes nitrogen.
    • Easy sowing, can be broadcast.
    • Dense vegetation that covers the soil and suppresses weeds.
    • Resistant to slug attacks.
    • Improves soil structure thanks to its well-developed root system.
  • Limitations :
    • Slow germination and establishment of the cover (delicate emergence in presence of many regrowths or weeds) : poorly competitive at the start.
    • Needs a support plant to avoid lodging.
    • Relatively high seed cost.
    • Aggressive on mineral elements and nitrogen.
  • Sowing period : August to October.
  • Seeding rate : 25-30 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity.
  • Dry matter production : 4-6 T/ha.
  • Cost : 55-85€/ha.
Faba bean

Faba bean

  • Advantages :
    • Stimulates microbial activity, enriches in fresh organic matter, deep taproot and fibrous root systems.
    • Easy establishment.
    • Strong atmospheric nitrogen fixation.
    • Good destruction by rolling.
  • Limitations :
    • Slow development and initially poor ground cover : it does not allow good weed control.
    • Too early sowing exposes the plant to diseases that can reduce biomass production.
    • Large faba bean seeds mixed with small seeds can clog seed hoppers.
    • High sowing cost if commercial varieties are used.
  • Sowing period : September to October.
  • Seeding rate : 130-150kg/ha on loam-clay soil, 160-180 kg/ha on stony clay-loam soil.
  • Frost sensitivity : sensitive (-5°C).
  • Dry matter production : 5-8 T/ha.
  • Cost : 130-180 €/ha.
Common vetch wrapped around a stem

Common vetch

  • Advantages :
    • Stimulates microbial activity.
    • Nitrogen fixation.
    • Enriches in fresh organic matter.
    • Positive effect against weeds.
    • Rapid growth.
    • Easy sowing, can be broadcast.
  • Limitations :
    • Needs a support plant.
    • Beware of regrowth.
  • Sowing period : August to October.
  • Seeding rate : 100-200 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity (-10°C).
  • Dry matter production : 3-8 T/ha.
  • Cost : 55-85 €/ha.
Forage pea

Forage pea

  • Advantages :
    • Stimulates microbial activity.
    • Enriches in fresh organic matter.
    • Deep root system.
    • Easy establishment.
  • Limitations :
    • Growth speed varies depending on sowing date.
    • Needs a support plant.
  • Sowing period : August to September.
  • Seeding rate : 50-150 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity (-10°C).
  • Dry matter production : 5-8 T/ha.

Minette, birdsfoot trefoil & subterranean clover

  • Advantages :
    • Mixture adapted to gravelly or drier areas.
    • Stimulates microbial activity.
    • Enriches in fresh organic matter.
    • Good ground cover capacity.
  • Limitations:
    • Delicate establishment.
  • Seeding rate : 5-15 kg/ha.

Crucifers

White mustard

White mustard

  • Advantages :
    • Fibrous and taproot system allowing good soil restructuring.
    • Acidifying plant capable of using potassium and phosphorus stocks unavailable to other plants.
    • Easy and rapid establishment. High germination power : easy sowing even by broadcasting with rolling.
    • Nitrate trap : prevents nitrate leaching into deep soil layers and groundwater pollution.
    • Nematicidal action.
    • Very rapid growth : good competitor against weeds.
    • Easy destruction : frost, mowing, rolling, good mulch behavior.
    • Cheap seeds.
  • Limitations :
    • Aggressive towards other species in mixtures due to rapid early growth.
    • Sensitive to water stress and heat causing accelerated seed setting and tissue lignification.
    • It is preferable to associate it with legumes to limit risks of nitrogen deficiency if the plant is too lignified at destruction.
    • Mechanical damage : beware of machinery passes that can destroy plants.
    • Beware of cold air pockets for frost.
  • Sowing period : August to September.
  • Seeding rate : 8-10 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity.
  • Dry matter production : 4-5 T/ha.
  • Cost : 10-25€/ha.
Forage rapeseed

Forage rapeseed

  • Advantages :
    • Taproot system.
    • Stimulates soil microbial activity.
    • Enriches soil in potassium and phosphorus.
  • Sowing period : August to September.
  • Seeding rate : 8-15 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : low sensitivity.
  • Dry matter production : 4-9 T/ha.
Forage turnip

Forage turnip

  • Advantages :
    • High potential for nitrogen trapping : reduces leaching losses.
    • Effective root system for good soil restructuring.
    • Rapid establishment with strong competitive ability : smothers weeds.
    • Cheap seeds.
    • Cold resistant.
  • Limitations :
    • Repeated Brassicaceae sowings on poor soils can have a depressive effect on mycorrhization and gradually acidify the soil.
    • Destruction is delicate if the taproot is well developed. The plant can regrow if destruction is too early.
    • Forage turnip is sensitive to water stress.
    • Due to rapid regrowth, it can compete with the vine by drawing on nutrient resources from spring mineralization.
  • Sowing period : August to September.
  • Seeding rate : 10-20 kg/ha.
  • Frost sensitivity : sensitive.
  • Dry matter production : 3-5 T/ha.
  • Cost : 15-30€/ha.
Forage radish

Forage radish

  • Advantages :
    • Taproot system.
    • Stimulates soil microbial activity.
    • Enriches soil in potassium and phosphorus.
    • Rapid germination.
    • Good soil restructuring.
    • Very good capacity to trap mineralized nitrogen during winter.
  • Seeding rate : 4-12 kg/ha.

Further reading...

For further information, consult the IFV Southwest species comparison table (here) or Agrobio Périgord (here, see pages 33-34) as well as the species sheets of IFV Southwest Oat, Barley, Crimson clover, Faba bean, Common vetch, Forage turnip and White mustard[2].

Establishment

  • The soil must be sufficiently crumbly to allow good emergence.
  • In established vineyards, one or two passes with a rotary hoe or vibrocultivator may suffice.
  • Sowing is done broadcast or with a fertilizer spreader, ideally followed by rolling or shallow harrowing.
  • A no-till sowing is also possible in the case of a grassed inter-row or to sow on crop residues of a previous cover crop (cover crop succession).
  • Establishment should be done during the harvest period to take advantage of favorable conditions (temperatures and late summer or autumn rains), or in October - early November. The sowing period should be considered in coherence with the chosen green manure species, which can be sown pure or in mixtures.

Sowing date

  • The sowing date depends on the type of cover crop to be established but also on material organization possibilities.
  • Before harvest : the interest is to target a period after which rains will allow emergence. However, soil work in the inter-rows to be sown should be avoided before the passage of the harvester. In these conditions, no-till sowing under cover crop is very useful : not only is the soil undisturbed, but the sowing operation requires only one pass.
  • After harvest : the risk is not having adequate soil conditions, but soil work can be considered to favor emergence.

Soil preparation

No-till sowing has the advantage of simplicity and less disturbance of the soil surface state, but in an already dense cover crop, emergence is clearly poorer than in a seedbed, penalized by competition from plants already in place. Biomass produced will be less. No-till sowing under cover is therefore rather reserved for itineraries where a spring cover replaces the previous one established in autumn at its destruction, to avoid competition at emergence.

Available seeders

There is a variety of equipment for sowing in vineyards. Here are some examples :

Aitchison

Aitchison

  • Equipment derived from seeders used for no-till sowing in large-scale crops.
  • Its main feature is the use of an inverted T-shaped coulter to place the seed and close the soil above.
  • Drive is mechanical with a follower wheel. Distribution is done by a foam disc that respects the seed mixture from the hopper. Depth adjustment is ensured by two press wheels. Coulters are mounted on vibrating tines.
Aurensan

Aurensan

  • The Aurensan seeder is distinguished by sowing elements each consisting of an inclined disc to cut the cover and soil, and a wheel attached for independent sowing depth adjustment.
  • The assembly is completed with wheels inclined opposite to the disc to press each sowing line. Several versions exist, with the possibility of separate hoppers to avoid heterogeneous mixtures. Distribution is mechanical, with follower wheel. The whole is heavy.
Gerber seeder (Rolofaca)

Gerber

  • The Gerber seeder (Rolofaca) uses corrugated discs to open the soil in front of sowing elements made of inverted T-shaped coulters mounted on rigid tines.
  • Distribution is pneumatic. It is possible to modify the distribution groove to adapt to seeds of different sizes.

Combined rotary harrow broadcast seeding

  • This setup can be simply made based on a harrow rotary.
  • Seeds are broadcast into the worked soil and the roller puts them in contact.
  • Be careful, this type of seeder is usable with seeds that are least demanding in terms of sowing depth.
  • For faba beans, this is largely sufficient. With mixtures containing very small seeds, the result may be more heterogeneous.

To go further...

For more information on vineyard sowing equipment, see the article Mechanization of cover crop establishment and destruction (MatéVi, 2016).

Destruction

The different methods of destroying cover crops in vineyards are covered in the technical sheet Détruire les engrais verts en vigne.

Services provided by cover crops

Physical stability and soil structuring

The establishment of cover crops allows :

  • To improve soil structure, thanks to the mechanical action of the roots of the planted species which loosen the inter-row soil, improving water and air penetration.
  • To protect the soil against erosion and runoff by ensuring soil coverage of the inter-row. Root exudates and microorganisms in the rhizosphere of the plant cover also contribute to stabilizing soil particles.

Nutrient supply

The establishment of cover crops allows :

  • To improve mineral fertility, thanks to the assimilation by certain families of cover crops of mineral elements in insoluble form which are unusable as such by the vine (example : Crucifers with potash). It is the destruction of the cover crop that will allow their restitution to the vine in an assimilable form. Legumes contribute to enriching the soil in nitrogen by symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen if the cultivation period is longer than 50 days.
  • To limit losses by leaching by ensuring soil coverage during winter.

Note that a cover crop grown to straw (increase in cellulose, decrease in water and simple soluble elements) can create a nitrogen hunger detrimental to the vine.

Weed regulation and management

Fast-growing and covering species have an effective action (vetch, Italian ryegrass, fodder radish) to very effective (buckwheat) in reducing or even preventing the development of weeds during the winter period (competition for light).

Pest management

  • A reduction in the potential of gall nematodes (Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus) can be obtained with a well-chosen cover crop such as marigold, oats, and certain crotalaria species. The action is obtained thanks to nematicidal compounds exuded or released during the decomposition of the cover crop.
  • It should be noted that these same cover crops have no impact on nematodes vectoring short root knot because the root exploration depth of the cover crop is very often insufficient (< 1.5 m) to have an effective action on Xiphinema index.
  • Cover crops constitute, before their destruction, habitat shelters and a food source for beneficial insects in crops, particularly for generalist predators.

Disease management

  • Cover crops have a suppressive effect in the fight against at least 2 important diseases : downy mildew and botrytis, by allowing better water circulation, reducing splash projections, decreasing vine vigor (in the case of covers low in nitrogen) and improving soil bearing capacity. However, caution with legume-based cover crops (fabaceae) which can lead to significant nitrogen releases and greater sensitivity of berries to gray mold (botrytis).

Socio-economic assessment of this technique

Operational costs

Négatif Increasing compared to management without cover.

  • Estimate between 8 and 130 €/ha for seed costs (ITAB estimate).
  • Self-produced seeds and mixtures can however significantly reduce the cost.

Mechanization costs

Négatif Increasing compared to management without cover.

  • Estimated using the VITICOÛT software, IFV South-West arrives at a cost of about 250 €/h for autumn sowing, on all inter-rows, including labor, traction cost, seeder depreciation and seeds.

Working time

Négatif Increasing compared to management without cover.

  • Estimate nearly 1h30/ha for soil preparation and 2h for sowing (ITAB estimate).

For more information


Cette technique s'applique aux cultures suivantes

La technique limite la présence des auxiliaires et bioagresseurs suivants

La technique est complémentaire des techniques suivantes

Contribue à


  1. ↑ AgrobioPerigord - Cover crops and green manure in organic viticulture http://www.agrobioperigord.fr/upload/article-couvert-&-engrais-verts-en-viticulture-bio-auxilliaire-bio-frab-mai-2017.pdf
  2. ↑ Species sheets of IFV Southwest Oat, Barley, Clover crimson, Faba bean, Common vetch, Forage turnip and Mustard white http://www.vignevin-occitanie.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Fiches-engrais-verts.pdf
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