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Crop Diversification in Viticulture with Aromatic Plants: Effects of Intercropping on Grapevine Productivity in a Steep-Slope Vineyard in the Mosel Area, Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Felix Dittrich

    (Department of Soil Science, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany)

  • Thomas Iserloh

    (Department of Physical Geography, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany)

  • Cord-Henrich Treseler

    (Winery Dr. Frey, 54441 Kanzem, Germany)

  • Roman Hüppi

    (Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Sophie Ogan

    (Department of Biogeography, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany)

  • Manuel Seeger

    (Department of Physical Geography, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany)

  • Sören Thiele-Bruhn

    (Department of Soil Science, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany)

Abstract

The effects of intercropping grapevine with aromatic plants are investigated using a multi-disciplinary approach. Selected results are presented that address the extent to which crop diversification by intercropping impacts grapevine yield and must quality, as well as soil water and mineral nutrients (NO 3 -N, NH 4 -N, plant-available K and P). The experimental field was a commercial steep-slope vineyard with shallow soils characterized by a high presence of coarse rock fragments in the Mosel area of Germany. The field experiment was set up as randomized block design. Rows were either cultivated with Riesling ( Vitis vinifera L.) as a monocrop or intercropped with Origanum vulgare or Thymus vulgaris . Regarding soil moisture and nutrient levels, the topsoil (0–0.1 m) was more affected by intercropping than the subsoil (0.1–0.3 m). Gravimetric moisture was consistently lower in the intercropped topsoil. While NO 3 -N was almost unaffected by crop diversification, NH 4 -N, K, and P were uniformly reduced in topsoil. Significant differences in grapevine yield and must quality were dominantly attributable to climate variables, rather than to the treatments. Yield stabilization due to intercropping with thyme and oregano seems possible with sufficient rainfall or by irrigation. The long-term effects of intercropping on grapevine growth need further monitoring.

Suggested Citation

  • Felix Dittrich & Thomas Iserloh & Cord-Henrich Treseler & Roman Hüppi & Sophie Ogan & Manuel Seeger & Sören Thiele-Bruhn, 2021. "Crop Diversification in Viticulture with Aromatic Plants: Effects of Intercropping on Grapevine Productivity in a Steep-Slope Vineyard in the Mosel Area, Germany," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:2:p:95-:d:485922
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hall, Rea M. & Penke, Nicole & Kriechbaum, Monika & Kratschmer, Sophie & Jung, Vincent & Chollet, Simon & Guernion, Muriel & Nicolai, Annegret & Burel, Francoise & Fertil, Albin & Lora, Ángel & Sánche, 2020. "Vegetation management intensity and landscape diversity alter plant species richness, functional traits and community composition across European vineyards," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Ning & Li, Xianyue & Šimůnek, Jiří & Shi, Haibin & Zhang, Yuehong & Hu, Qi, 2022. "Quantifying inter-species nitrogen competition in the tomato-corn intercropping system with different spatial arrangements," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. Ilaria Marotti & Anne Whittaker & Reyhan Bahtiyarca Bağdat & Pervin Ari Akin & Namuk Ergün & Giovanni Dinelli, 2023. "Intercropping Perennial Fruit Trees and Annual Field Crops with Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (MAPs) in the Mediterranean Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Ohana-Levi, Noa & Mintz, Danielle Ferman & Hagag, Nave & Stern, Yossi & Munitz, Sarel & Friedman-Levi, Yael & Shacham, Nir & Grünzweig, José M. & Netzer, Yishai, 2022. "Grapevine responses to site-specific spatiotemporal factors in a Mediterranean climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    4. Claudia Di Bene & Rosa Francaviglia & Roberta Farina & Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes & Raúl Zornoza, 2022. "Agricultural Diversification," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-6, March.

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