Technical Yearbook 2024

FIGURE 2. Differences in the colour of grape juice correspond with differences in topsoil depth.

When vineyards are in balance, the titratable acidity and cluster density are more closely correlated to soil differences than to fruit exposure and crop load. 10. The effects of soil aeration in combination with a biostimulant in the Tokaj wine region, Hungary This study was performed to determine the effect of soil

aeration with a hydraulic hammer next to the grapevines, after which they were treated with Trichoderma (2 L/ha). The results showed that the leaf area, cane length and cane weight increased. Trichoderma colonised the roots, and this was verified by a serological test. Trunk diseases were also controlled more effectively.

Summary Soil health refers to the ability of a specific soil to maintain productivity, diversity and the environmental services of a specific ecosystem. Soil health is a key concept in the global effort to reverse soil degradation, but it also serves as an instrument to improve soil and hence must be defined on a policy level and be quantifiable in some way. Soil health is more than just organic carbon and the distribution of microbes in the soil. It also involves the impact of humankind on the soil. When soil is managed in such a way that it can productively maintain the crop established on it, without negatively impacting soil degradation and natural resources, and the soil is regularly monitored, then we are a step closer to protecting soil (and thus also establishing soil health). The greatest challenge for South African agriculture in general and specifically the wine industry, is to reach a consensus on the indicators for soil health in our context, as well as standardisation of norms and the measurement thereof, following which policy can be formalised for standard application and measurement. The conference was interesting and decisive, an opportunity for me personally to delve deeper into research on soil science, and specifically also soil science from a global perspective. 

Reference https://www.wineland.co.za/centennial-celebration-and-congress-of-the-international-union-of-soil-science/

For more information, contact Johan de Jager at johan@vinpro.co.za.

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2024