Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of soil management systems on erosion and nutrition loss

in vineyards on steep slopes

Author Details

 

Stanko Vrsic

(Corresponding author)

Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pivola 10, SI-2311, Slovenia

e-mail: stanko.vrsic@uni-mb.si

Anton Ivancic

Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pivola 10, SI-2311, Slovenia

Borut Pulko

Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pivola 10, SI-2311, Slovenia

Janez Valdhuber

Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Pivola 10, SI-2311, Slovenia

 

 

Publication Data

Paper received:

19 November 2009

 

Revised received:

07 April 2010

 

Accepted:

20 April 2010

 

Abstract

Green cover in vineyards on steep slopes may play an important role in the reduction of soil erosion. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a permanent green cover (PGC) on soil erosion, together with any loss of nutrients, and to compare it with periodic soil tillage (PST). PST took place in the spring (May) and summer (August), in each second area between rows, in a vineyard with permanent green cover. In the case of PST experimental treatments, on average, 1892 kg of soil ha^-1 yr^-1 eroded, together with the nutrients. In the case of PGC treatments, the amount of soil erosion was only 92 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. The greater portion of erosive events occurred after tillage in summer, which was accompanied by heavy rainfall and slow renewal of grass cover (slower than in spring). PGC treatment provided a better environment for the activities of soil macro-organisms (i.e., earthworms belonging to the family Lumbricidae), and most of the organisms were close to the soil surface. In PST treatment, the majority of macro-organisms were below the area disturbed by the tillage (between 10 and 20 cm). The results of our investigation indicate that, in order to adjust wine production activities to climatic changes in vineyards with permanent green cover, PST in area between rows is more advisable in spring (end of May) than in summer (first decade of August) owing to an earlier establishment of effective grass cover.

 

Key words

Viticulture, Soil management, Erosion, Climatic changes, Soil macro-organisms

 

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