Soil structural conditions of vineyards under two soil management systems

Abstract

The soil structural conditions of two management systems of vineyard soil on Barmera Sandy Loam in the Riverland of South Australia were compared. Three years of zero cultivation and weed mulching were compared with long term winter cropping and cultivation between vines. Significant increases in 1 mm dry aggregates, aggregate stability and percentage of large pores were measured under zero tillage. Significant reductions also occurred for bulk density and penetration resistance of the 6-12 cm layer of the zero-tilled soil. The results suggest that infiltration, aeration and root growth of vines would improve under a long-term program of zero tillage and weed mulching.