Grapevine Root System and Soil Characteristics in a Vineyard Maintained Long-term with or without Interrow Sward

Abstract

Grapevine root system and soil chemical and physical properties were studied in the Loire Valley, France. The vineyard was planted in 1977 with Cabernet Sauvignon grafted onto SO4 and maintained for 17 years with or without interrow sward. Three treatments were compared: complete weed control by herbicide, permanent grass (<i>Festuca Arundinacea</i> cv. Manade) covering over 50% of the soil surface, and permanent grass covering over 25% of the soil surface achieved by a grass interrow alternating with a herbicide-treated interrow. At the end of the experiment in 1994, observations showed that the permanent grass cover caused a considerable decrease in the number of vine roots in the interrow, mainly in the upper soil layers, but an increase close to the row. The amount of organic matter, nitrogen, exchangeable K₂O, pH, and soil moisture at field capacity increased under permanent grass cover, while bulk density and the mechanical resistance of the soil decreased.