WINETECH Technical Yearbook 2019

As part of the Gen-Z Vineyard Project altogether 16 cover crop demo plots were established in wine producing vineyards throughout the Western Cape in 2017 and 2018 (Photo 1). Two seed companies, Barenbrug and Agricol, donated the seed and their agronomists made recommendations about the cover crops and mixtures that can be established in the various regions. They also assisted with the evaluations and discussions on farmers’ days (Photo 2) that were held at some of the demo plots. In 2017 the drought unfortunately resulted in very poor growth, but good rain during the post-harvest period and early winter of 2018 produced excellent results. Here are some of our most important general observations with regard to these plots: • The cover crops included certain new crops/cultivars that were established in vineyards for the first time: – Forage barley (Moby) – establishes and grows quickly at the start of the season. It was the best cereal cover crop established on its own. Sowing rate: 40-45 kg/ha. – Forage rye (Barpower) – performed well, especially in a mixture with vetch. It is a cheaper and often better alternative to triticale. Sowing rate: 35-40 kg/ha. – Phacelia – a brand new cover crop that was established for the first time

PHOTO 2. Mini-farmers’ day at Kanonkop, Stellenbosch.

PHOTO 4. Good growth of Sito white mustard in the cover crop plot on De Wetshof Estate, Robertson.

PHOTO 3. Barpower forage rye/Haymaker vetch mixture with excellent material production by Frederick le Roux, Hermon.