Organic Viticulture

Question 1

What is the aim of organic viticulture?

Answer 1

Improve soil of the vineyard, range of microbes and animals, increase health and disease resistance.
Rejects manufactured fertilisers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.

Question 2

How does organic viticulture work?

Answer 2

1. Compost breaks down in soil= slow release of nutrients= improves structure and increases biomass.
2. Natural fertilisers= restore natural balance of vy.
3. Cover crops- prevent erosion and improve life of soil
4. Reduction of monoculture by growing cover crops, plating hedges, ‘islands’ of biodiversity.

Question 3

What does organic viticulture use for mildew?

Answer 3

Traditional remedies- sulphur and copper sulfate= mildews, and monitor weather if spraying necessary.
But build up of copper in soil= bad.

Question 4

What does organic viticulture use for Grey rot?

Answer 4

Natural predators and ecosystem mechanisms.
Bacillus subtilis competes with botrytis cinerea for space on grape.

Question 5

What does organic viticulture use for moths and mealy bugs?

Answer 5

‘Sexual confusion’ - ‘pheromone tags and capsules confuse mating patterns= limit their population.

Question 6

What are the advantages of organic viticulture?

Answer 6

Improvement of health and disease resistance.
Health of soil.
Elimination of spraying synthetics.
Saving on cost of synthetics.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of organic viticulture?

Answer 7

Certification- cost and time
Increased reliance of copper sprays - build up in soil
Reduction in yield
Significant reduction in yield in bad years- eg long period of rainfall/humidity