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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Research Project #446358

Research Project: Enhancing Vine Productivity and Soil Health Through Sustainable Wood Mulching Strategies

Location: Water Management Research

Project Number: 2034-13000-013-015-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 1, 2024
End Date: Apr 30, 2025

Objective:
Evaluate impacts of shredded vine material as a mulch on vineyard soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, soil moisture status, and yield.

Approach:
i. Deploy a cultural practice that ensures the long-term sustainability of natural resources required for grape production. ii. Investigate the effects of mulching with shredded vine materials with compost on weed suppression, table grape vines performance, and soil health, moisture retention, and temperature. iii. Determine if co-application of nitrogen-rich compost with shredded vine material enhances plant available nitrogen in soil iv. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with disposal of vine pruning materials. v. Determine which, if any, enhanced soil health metrics correspond to improved market quality or yield of table grapes.