Technical Yearbook 2023

PHOTO 5. Pruning shoots on the berm are a good catch net for leaves and other plant residues.

PHOTO 3. Dead wild barley cover crop mid-December. No herbicide had been sprayed at the time.

can be compared to straw and hay for example, but at a fraction of the price. Australian saltbush The Australian saltbush is, as the name suggests, native to the land of the kangaroo and Crocodile Dundee . This hardy perennial broadleaf weed has a low creeping growth habit with a characteristic taproot system. Australian saltbush is also exceptionally resistant to drought and brack conditions and seems to thrive in some of our most problematic soils. As an additional advantage, it is also tasty for livestock and a preferred weed among many cattle breeds, especially in times of limited pasture. The Australian saltbush’s growth can be encouraged by avoiding herbicide where it does occur naturally, or selectively eliminating the higher-growing weeds with a slasher and thus clearing the way for the saltbush. This perennial creeper colonises the surface quickly and forms a thick carpet which suppresses weeds and lowers soil temperatures. In terms of competition with grapevines for nutrients and water, it can become problematic in cases where the berms have been totally colonised. If the growth is however restricted to the work row by means of chemical or mechanical control, it does not pose a threat for grapevine productivity. The Australian saltbush is very effective in extreme conditions where most commercial cover crops struggle to make the grade. In instances where control on the berms/vine row is essential, an effective mulch can be established by placing winter prunings on the berms. The pruning shoots alone

PHOTO 4. Pruning shoots on berms with wild barley in the work rows.

of competition with the grapevine for water and nutrients. Wild barley dies at the end of October/beginning of November and usually does not require any further weed control. Due to the low growth habit it is also suitable for use as green cover (and later dry material) on the berm without entangling trellised vines. The weed suppression through this dense tufted grass is excellent and it can be applied in the work row, as well as on the berm. Where control on the berm is preferred, herbicide can be applied with ease. Whatever the case, it leaves an effective mulch behind which

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2023