Some of you have asked what do you do on the vineyards where you do not till?
The simple answer is to cut the vetch growing between the rows with a flail mower (mulches little bits so organic material is reincorporated into the earth) See the pictures here with this Cariñena in Bagual—old Calivoro. Depending upon the year this green almost flowers 2-3 times and each time pass with the mower insuring the nitrogen stays in the soil so it can be utilized by the vines later on.
The “the tough part” is right around the plants. The second photo-video shows how we keep the vegetation from bothering the vines. We simply break the stocks with our feet or with small planks of wood. It can be cut but the best method is stomping to bend stems plant by plant so their nitrogen stays in the ground and they continue to lend shade to the earth after they dry up in an orderly fashion. When the stocks create shade for the earth around and between the vines we have less moisture evaporating from the vineyard. Eventually this plant matter will break down into the soil but not near as fast as the bits we have mulched. This is Pilar’s favourite part.
@agricolabagual @efecto_manada @savoryinstitue
Stomping credit : Laura from Guadalajara
