COVER CROPS in South African Vineyards

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LUCINDA HEYNS

INTRODUCTION

Modern agriculture relies on chemical inputs to increase yields and production efficiency, but synthetic fertilisers and crop- protectants may damage the environment and threaten human health if not used judiciously. Therefore, producers must apply soil cultivation practices that are both sustainable and effective. The extent to which producers can satisfy consumer concerns and demands while also accommodating economic realities will determine the measure of their success.

Soil underpins the success or failure of a vineyard. Therefore, attention to soil health is of the utmost importance to producers and to their heirs. Maintenance and improvement of soils also concern everybody else, as we all depend on soils to sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality.

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