1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

{'additional_translations': {}, 'value': 1074, 'label': 'Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)', 'text': 'OPtimal strategies to retAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe (OPTAIN)', 'template': 'raw'} {'additional_translations': {}, 'value': 6270, 'label': 'Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)', 'text': 'Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research (ATK TAKI) - Hungary', 'template': 'raw'}

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Permanent grass cover under grape vines protects the soil surface against erosion and compaction - and provides better conditions for traffic within the rows during mechanised field operations

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Permanent grass cover under grape vines protects the soil surface against erosion and compaction - and provides better conditions for traffic within the rows during mechanised field operations. Grass can be sown using a mixture of grass and legume species - white clover, red clover, tall fescue are the most widely used - or it can be allowed to germinate naturally after stopping regular tillage applications. For the maintenance of grass cover and to avoid the disadvantages of tall grass it must be regularly cut. The height of the grass is most important directly below the grape rows. Grass clippings are a great source of nitrogen and break down quickly, so it can be used as mulch. But winegrowers/farmers who deal with animal husbandry too, prefer to use grass clippings as fodder. Herbicides are often used to control the grass in narrow strips underneath the grape rows.
One benefit of the grass cover is the good soil protection on slopes - where vineyards are often established due to better exposure to the sun. In addition, it gives better traction for machines, especially on steep gradients: this is appreciated by land users. Permanent grass cover makes for a cooler and more humid microclimate in the vineyard, but this means a greater risk of fungal diseases and loss of moisture due to the transpiration demand of the grass.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation
• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Regular soil tillage is finished between the interrow space of vineyard. As a consequence permanent green cover will be developed. Grass cover will be dominant within a year.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Permanent grass cover develops after the regular soil tillage is finished without any investment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	cutting grass	4-5 times a year

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Other	1st cutting grass is carried out by a contractor	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Other	2nd cutting grass is carried out by a contractor	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Other	3rd cutting grass is carried out by a contractor	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Other	4th cutting grass is carried out by a contractor	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Other	5th cutting grass is carried out by a contractor	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					175.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					175.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

fuel prices

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	not well at all

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Using drought-tolerant grass species

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
good soil conservation - increases soil organic carbon and improves aggregate stability
reduces soil loss

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Less nutrient load through erosion (off-site effect)

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
cutting grass is regulary needed

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
vineyard microclimate is more humid, resulting in higher risk of diseases

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Cover cropping in vineyards - A grower's handbook, Published by Agriculture & Natural Resources 2002-01-01, 2002, ISBN 10: 187990635X / ISBN 13: 9781879906358

Available from where? Costs?

From LowKeyBooks (Sumas, WA, U.S.A.)

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Overview of Vineyard Floor Management

URL:

https://grapes.extension.org/overview-of-vineyard-floor-management/

7.4 General comments

filling out the questionnaire is time consuming