Chapter 6 Managing Nutrients & Water Flashcards
Define Soil health
It is the capacity of the soil to act as a living ecosystem that allows plants to live.
Define soil structure
how the mineral particles in the soil form aggregates (crumbs).
The size, shape and stability of these aggregates define water drainage, root growth and workability of the soil.
How does soil health is determined?
- The structure of the soil
- The amount of organic matter and humus
- The number of living organism that break down organic matter and inorganic nutrients
- The total amount of nutrients available for the vine to grow.
What does poor soil health can lead to?
Problems with the availability and uptake of nutrients and water. This lead to poor vine growth and ripening.
Define Organic fertilisers
Derived from fresh or composted plant or animal material i.e. manure or cover crop that are grown, mown and turned into the soil to decompose and provide nutrients. (Green manure)
What are de advantages of organic fertilisers?
- Cheap or even free.
- Some are high in humus = good for soil strcuture and water retention.
- Provide nutrients for living organisms in the soil.
- Nutrients become available gradually.
What are disadvantages of organic fertilisers?
- Organic fertilisers need to be incorporated into the soil = more labour.
- Bulky = expensive to transport and spread.
Define Inorganic fertilisers
Made from minerals extracted from the soil or synthetic minerals. They are in a inorganic form and do not need to be broken down.
Advantages of inorganic fertilisers
- Provide single nutrients and be more specific to a vineyard needs.
- Nutrients are available to be absorbed by the vine.
- Cheaper to transport and distribute.
Disadvantages of inorganic fertilisers
- No benefits for soil structure and soil organisms.
- More expensive.
Define Cultivation
A method of weed control that involves ploughing the soil to cut or disturb the weeds root system
Advantages of Cultivation
- Does not use chemicals
- Can be used in organic and biodynamic viticulture
- The weeds can be used as green manure
- Can be used with fertilizers
- Less expensive
- Lowers water competition
Disadvantages of cultivation
- If you used too much can damage soil structure, and ecology.
- High cost.
- Can increase vigour as there is no competition for water and nutrients.
- Can encourage the weeds to grow back
Define Herbicides
Herbicide chemical sprays that kill weeds. There are three types. Pre-emergence, contact and systemic.
How Herbicides work?
- Pre-emergence herbicides are sprayed before weeds establish. They persist in the surface layers of the soil but are absorbed by the weeds’ roots and inhibit germination of young seedlings.
- Contact herbicides are sprayed on established weeds and kill the green parts of the weed that they contact, resulting in the death of the plant.
- Systemic herbicides are sprayed on established weeds and are taken in by the leaves. The herbicide travels up and down the weed in the sap and kills the whole plant.
Advantages of herbicides
Cheap in terms of labour and machinery required. Highly effective. Less damaging to the soil structure than cultivation.
Disadvantages of herbicides
- Risk of poisonning the operator, consumer and environment.
- Seeds can become resistant.
- They can increase vigour as there no competition.
- Not allowed in organic and biodynamic viticulture.
Define animal grazing
A method of weed control where animals are allowed to graize the vineyard.
