Page 56 - Grapevine SeptOct 2021
P. 56
Around The Vineyard
The Role of Cover Crops
in the Vineyard
By: Becky Garrison
T defines a cover crop as “a crop general- cal properties, supply nutrients, suppress weeds,
he United States Department of Agriculture wind erosion, improve soil’s physical and biologi-
ly recognized by agricultural experts as
cycles along with various other benefits. The spe-
agronomically sound for the area for erosion con- improve the availability of soil water and break pest
trol or other purposes related to conservation or cies of cover crop selected along with its manage-
soil improvement.” The USDA National Resources ment determines the benefits and returns.”
Conservation Service website offers this concise
explanation of the multiple benefits of implement- While many vineyards have been utilizing cover
ing a cropping system. “They can prevent soil and crops for years, are they maximizing the poten-
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