In this article we briefly present the testing of different soil management practices in a vineyard in the Rioja Alavesa (DOC Rioja) with a high risk of soil erosion.
It is a plot of the Graciano variety located in the municipality of Elvillar (Álava), with slopes of 10-20%, managed in organic farming mode and belonging to the Maisulan winery.
In this trial they have proposed three different soil managements:
These three approaches have different impacts on the soil. The objective of this essay is to better understand how each type of soil management influences the erosion levels of the vineyards. Based on the results of the experimental tests, recommendations for soil management will be obtained that will help farmers implement conservative soil management measures to protect the soil from erosion, while also promoting greater crop productivity.
To this end, erosion measures are carried out periodically, to assess the loss of soil due to weather effects and according to the management practices applied. Likewise, the effect of different crop management practices on the health of the soil and on agronomic parameters of production and quality of the vineyard is also evaluated.
The experimental results will allow us to get a more complete picture of how agricultural management practices influence soil erosion levels in agricultural fields.
Thanks to a solid knowledge base, from MONTCLIMA we will propose an action plan for the reduction of erosion risk in the cultivated lands of the SUDOE territory, with a proposal of concrete measures that will help to preserve the soils against this natural risk.
Which will be very useful to update our vision of soils in the field of agriculture with the aim of helping farmers to value and preserve their soils.
