SOIL PREPARATION

CHOICE OF IMPLEMENT FOR SOIL PREPARATION

7

Soil preparation equipment able to reach a depth of 1.0 m is both large and expensive and needs crawler tractors of at least 300 kilowatt (kW) to be operated (Figure 7.1). Therefore, the task is normally executed by specialised contractors and not by grape growers themselves. It remains, however, the responsibility of the client to ensure that deep tillage is executed effectively, in other words, to ensure that he or she will get their money’s worth. Interestingly, Columella, the Roman agriculturist who lived 1-77 A.D., has already considered the question of how to make sure that hired diggers (contractors) dig trenches of the required size (Thayer, n.d.). He mentioned an instrument called a ciconia (also named a stork) to measure the depth of trenches prepared for the planting of grapevines. Since this device still left room for disputes, he described an improvement on the stork as follows: “For this reason we have added certain parts to this contrivance, to do away with quarrels and disputes of contending parties. For we have fastened two pieces crosswise in the form of the Greek letter X and of a spread equal to the width to which the trencher intends to make his ditch, and to the middle point, where the pieces are joined, we have fastened that old-fashioned ciconia in such a way as to stand at a right angle to it as upon a sub-base; then upon the transverse rod, which is on the side, we have fastened a workman’s plumb-line. When the instrument so constructed is let down into the trench, it settles all dispute between master and contractor without injustice to either”. 

PHOTO: ARC INFRUITEC-NIETVOORBIJ.

110 | CHOICE OF IMPLEMENT FOR SOIL PREPARATION