COVER CROPS in South African Vineyards

COVER CROPS IN SOUTH AFRICAN VINEYARDS

P deemed necessary for near maximum yields on a Manawatu fine sandy loam soil (De Ruiter, 1981). Reference list Assefa G. and Ledin I., 2001. Effect of variety, soil type and fertiliser on the establishment, growth, forage yield, quality and voluntary intake by cattle of oats and vetches cultivated in pure stands and mixtures. Animal feed science and technology , 92(1-2), 95–111. De Ruiter JM. 1981. The phosphate response of eight Mediterranean annual and perennial legumes. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research , 24(1), 33–36. Fourie JC, Louw PJE and Agenbag GA. 2005. Cover crop management in a Sauvignon blanc/Ramsey vineyard in the semi-arid Olifants River valley, South Africa. 1. Effect of management practices on selected grass and broadleaf species. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture , 26(2), 131–139. Use of different implements for cover-crop establishment In addition to the impact of climate, irrigation and fertilisation on cover-crop performance, the use of different implements for seedbed preparation and seed covering can also affect dry-matter production.This was investigated in a trial where rye, grazing vetch, and Paraggio bur medic were grown in the Coastal region. The treatments are summarised in Table 4.2. A cultivator is commonly called a ghrop in South Africa. Please note that a rotary harrow is not the same as a rotavator or rotary tiller. Rotary tillers overturn the upper layers of the soil, whereas the rotary harrow keeps the soil layers intact. Plant residues on the soil surface were incorpo- rated into the soil four to six weeks prior to planting, using a disc harrow, in treatments 1, 3 and 5. A ROTARY HARROW IS NOT THE SAME AS A ROTAVATOR OR ROTARY TILLER.

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