The use of cover crops to ensure sustainable table grape production

PROJECT TITLE:    The use of cover crops to ensure sustainable table grape production

Project leader:       Carolyn Howell (ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij)

Contact:                     howellc@arc.agric.za

Duration:                   1 April 2023 – 31 March 2028

Problem identification and project objectives:

Annual cultivation of winter cover crops is almost standard practice in South African wine grape vineyards. Most of the research was carried out in micro-sprinkler irrigated wine grape vineyard where irrigation can be applied to establish cover crops annually. However, table grape producers are becoming increasingly interested in cultivating cover crops. The benefits of cover crops have been shown in South Africa for wine grape vineyards in all regions as well as table grapes in the Northern Cape. The benefits of cover crops include reduced weed pressure, improved organic carbon content, long-term reduction in overall production input costs as well as a reduction in sun damage during incidences of extreme heat. In addition, it is regarded as one of the basic elements of environmentally friendly production systems and improvement of soil health. Growers are under increasing pressure to consider the financial implications of their management practices because of high export standards required by the export market and the pressure to keep input costs as low as possible. However, only considering the input costs of soil cultivation practices can affect growers in the short- and long term. In this regard, the effect of a cultivation practice on grape production and the accompanying income that is generated also needs to be considered.