COVER CROPS in South African Vineyards

COVER CROPS IN SOUTH AFRICAN VINEYARDS

Coastal region Most of the trials in the Coastal region were conducted at the ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij research farm near Stellenbosch in theWestern Cape. Some trials took place at Blaauwklippen, also in the Stellenbosch district. The relatively high winter rainfall in this region allows the cultivation of cover crops without supplementary irrigation. However, full-surface sprinkler irrigation during the first weeks after sowing will reduce the risk of crop failure. Open-land trials Twenty-six cover-crop species and cultivars were grown in open fields at the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij research farm under full-surface micro-sprinkler irrigation.The seeding density is summarised inTable 3.1. The cover crops were sown annually. They received 18 millimetres of water per week for the first ten weeks after sowing. Further irrigation was not usually necessary, as winter rains normally supplied the requirement of 18 millimetres water per fortnight.

JOHAN FOURIE

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