In-row Vegetation Cover and Its Effects on ‘Tannat’ Canopy and Grapes in the Campanha Region of Rio Grande do Sul State

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a permanent resident in-row cover crop and its effects on canopy and grapes of ‘Tannat’ vineyard. Study Design: The experiment was a randomized block with four replications. The treatment factor was permanent resident vegetation cover with two levels, presence of in-row vegetation cover (VC) and vegetation cover absence, with herbicide usage (HB).  Place and Duration of Study: Experiment was carried out in a commercial vineyard using a vertical shoot position (VSP) system on Eutrophic Red-Yellow Latosol soil in the city of Bagé, in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Methodology: Plant technical, physicochemical and polyphenolic potential parameters related to branch behavior and grape composition were evaluated. Results: The use of permanent resident in-row vegetation cover slightly decreased its performance during the 2014/2015 crop, but raised quality parameters such as reducing sugars, total and extractable anthocyanins and reduced the potassium content in grapes. During 2015/2016 crop, there were no yield differences between VC and HB, and yet the permanent resident in-row vegetation cover raised the quality parameters in relation to 2014 crop. Conclusion: This technique, where is particularly used in deep soils of the Campanha region, promotes sustainability in soil conservation and also can reduce herbicides costs, green pruning, and, mainly, thinning usage when aiming to increase the quality.