Winetech Technical Yearbook 2022

REGION: COASTAL District: Stellenbosch Site: Welgevallen Experimental Training Vineyards Soil description: Deep, loam, clay Vineyard irrigation: Drip Sowing date: Early May 2021 Sowing method: Sown by hand (plot 1 and 2) and planter (plot 3) Harvested: Late September 2021

Seeding rate (kg/ha)

DMP (t/ha)

Plot

Variety/species

Type

Observations

Barpower forage rye Haymaker grazing vetch Scala brown mustard Total mix

Cereal Legume Brassica

35 6 1 42

7.4 0.1 1.4 8.9

1

Weeds

0.0

Excellent stand and biomass production as seen in the 9 t/ha DM. Brown mustard and vetch were outcompeted by the forage rye. Outstanding weed suppression. Cost: R1 030/ha

Moby forage barley Arvika forage peas Tajuna fodder radish Total mix

Cereal Legume Brassica

30 20 2 52

7.0 1.7 0.4 9.1

2

Weeds

0.0

Although not as tall a stand as mixture 1, this mixture produced 9 t/ha DM which was largely due to the robust barley growth. The fact that the barley was in the soft - dough stage contributed to the high biomass weighed. The forage peas produced just under 1.7 t/ha DM, whereas the fodder radish was variable in growth. Weed suppression was excellent. Cost: R885/ha

140

10.6

US 2014 triticale

Cereal

3

Weeds

0.0

The triticale, US 2014, produced the highest biomass at 10.5 t/ha and excellent weed suppression. The soft-dough stage at the time of harvesting and the fact that it did not have other varieties with which to compete, likely played a role in the very high DMP. Cost: R1 165/ha

* DM = Dry Matter Production (tons/hectare). This vineyard block was established in 2020 and therefore the soil had relatively little compaction in the work row which would have contributed to the above-average performance of the cover crops in this block. All three mixes produced impressive stands and suppressed weeds effectively. The stands, when rolled using a crimp roller, created a protective mat over the soil that lasted for several months.

Plot 3 (triticale) after be ing rolled flat by means of the crimp roller (October 2021).

A crimp roller (Eikestad Agri) used to roll the cover crop plots flat (October 2021).

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WINETECH TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2022