Technologies

Contour small bench terraces with permanent green cover in vineyards [Suisse]

Ganzjährig begrünte Kleinterrassen im Rebbau

technologies_1011 - Suisse

État complet : 63%

1. Informations générales

1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de la Technologie

Personne(s)-ressource(s) clé(s)

Spécialiste GDT:
Spécialiste GDT:

Weissenbach Peter

Federal Research Station for fruit-growing, viticulture and horticulture-FAW

Suisse

Spécialiste GDT:

Spring Jean-Laurent

Federal Research Station for fruit-growing, viticulture and horticulture-RAC

Suisse

exploitant des terres:

Louis Hannes

Louis Weinbau

Suisse

exploitant des terres:

Hasler Lukas

Hasler Weinbau

Suisse

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)
Federal Research Station for fruit-growing, viticulture and horticulture (FAW/RAC) - Suisse
Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)
CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Suisse

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

1.5 Référence au(x) Questionnaires sur les Approches de GDT (documentées au moyen de WOCAT)

2. Description de la Technologie de GDT

2.1 Courte description de la Technologie

Définition de la Technologie:

Contour small bench terraces with stabilising permanent green cover in steep sloping vineyards.

2.2 Description détaillée de la Technologie

Description:

Description: The vineyards of the region are all, for micro-climatc reasons, more or less sloped. The technology is applied on steep to very steep slopes. It ist characterised by two elements: 1) small bench terrace with one contour-oriented vine row per terrace and 2) an initially sown all-year green cover of the soil surface for stabilisation reasons (green cover is also used between vine rows which are oriented up and down the slope, eg not terraced, see SWI01).
Purpose: Main purpose of the terrace construction is a possible mechanisation on steep to very steep slopes. Direct purpose of the green cover is the stabilisation of the small terraces, indirect but important purpose is the prevention of soil degradation, especially soil erosion by water and - secondary - to protect soil surface from compactation when using mechanised equipment.
Establishment: The terraces are constructed by external specialists and heavy machinery (walking excavator, type "Menzi Muck") and are considered to serve for a whole life cycle of the vine (20-40 years). The green cover is sown since stabilisation is needed from the very beginning on. The duration of the establishment is 3 years. Because of insufficient root length of young vines agronomic and vegetative measures differ from the "normal" measures: For reasons of competition the space around the freshly planted vines is kept free from vegetation with a hoe.
Maintenance: the topsoil is ripped from time to time with fuel driven machine (spade machine tracked by tractor). Cover vegetation is either cut or chopped and serves as mulching . Herbicides are applied around the vines. Minimum tillage and cutting / mulching may additionally serve to mobilise nutrients and to increase organic matter content or to eliminate competition of cover vegetation.
Natural environment: the vineyards are mainly placed on mountain or hill slopes, below 600 m a.s.l., annual rainfall is around 1000 mm with at least one erosive storm per year. The geological underground is limy, locally layered by Molasse (type of conglomerate). Soil properties are strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities (viticulture). Main degradation problem without green cover is erosion by water.
Human environment / land use: the region has a strong wine growing tradition (several centuries), belongs to the important Swiss wine growing regions and is not very densly populated.
First experiments with green cover in Switzerland were done in the 70ies around Zürich on contour small bench terraces, in the region of the lake of Biel contour small bench terraces with green cover started to be implemented in the 80ies

2.3 Photos de la Technologie

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où la Technologie a été appliquée et qui sont couverts par cette évaluation

Pays:

Suisse

Région/ Etat/ Province:

Canton of Berne

Autres spécifications du lieu:

Lake of Biel

Commentaires:

The technology is applied in all winegrowing regions of Switzerland, but under different conditions.

2.6 Date de mise en œuvre de la Technologie

Si l'année précise est inconnue, indiquez la date approximative: :
  • il y a moins de 10 ans (récemment)

2.7 Introduction de la Technologie

Spécifiez comment la Technologie a été introduite: :
  • par le biais de projets/ d'interventions extérieures
Commentaires (type de projet, etc.) :

The development of contour small bench terraces with green cover in vineyards was (also on the international level) essentially promoted and supported by the Federal Research Station for fruit-growing, viticulture and horticulture in Wädenswil (Canton of Zürich) and Changins (Canton of Vaud)

3. Classification de la Technologie de GDT

3.2 Type(s) actuel(s) d'utilisation des terres, là où la Technologie est appliquée

Terres cultivées

Terres cultivées

  • Plantations d’arbres ou de buissons
Plantations d'arbres et d'arbustes - Précisez les cultures:
  • raisins
Nombre de période de croissance par an: :
  • 1
Précisez:

Longest growing period in days: 210Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Oct

Commentaires:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The main problem was decreasing soil fertility, especially throug soil erosion by water with negative off-site effects like sand- /sediment deposition and contamination of groundwater by nutrients. It became a serious problem since the 60ies when the fact became visible that the traditional labour-intensive cultivation system, which was strongly dependent on external inputss, could no longer be sustained within an industrialised agriculture system.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: a vine plantation is established for a period of 20-40 years (lifetime of a vine). Some farmers make one year of fallow between the destruction of the old and the establishment of a new plantation.

3.4 Approvisionnement en eau

Approvisionnement en eau des terres sur lesquelles est appliquée la Technologie:
  • mixte: pluvial-irrigué
Commentaires:

Water supply: rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated

3.5 Groupe de GDT auquel appartient la Technologie

  • Amélioration de la couverture végétale/ du sol
  • mesures en travers de la pente
  • Stabilisation of terraces

3.6 Mesures de GDT constituant la Technologie

3.7 Principaux types de dégradation des terres traités par la Technologie

érosion hydrique des sols

érosion hydrique des sols

  • Wt: perte de la couche superficielle des sols (couche arable)/ érosion de surface
  • Wo: effets hors-site de la dégradation
dégradation chimique des sols

dégradation chimique des sols

  • Cn: baisse de la fertilité des sols et réduction du niveau de matière organique (non causée par l’érosion)
  • Cp: pollution des sols
dégradation physique des sols

dégradation physique des sols

  • Pc: compaction
  • Pk: scellage et encroûtement
Commentaires:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wo: offsite degradation effects

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Cp: soil pollution, Pc: compaction, Pk: sealing and crusting

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes: fast changing basic conditions of viticulture in the last 100 years), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge), fast changing basic conditions of viticulture (economy, laws)

3.8 Prévention, réduction de la dégradation ou réhabilitation des terres dégradées

Spécifiez l'objectif de la Technologie au regard de la dégradation des terres:
  • réduire la dégradation des terres
Commentaires:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4. Spécifications techniques, activités, intrants et coûts de mise en œuvre

4.1 Dessin technique de la Technologie

Spécifications techniques (associées au dessin technique):

Technical drawing of small contour bench terraces with permanent green cover. A = width of terrace, B = tractor area, C = distance between vine plant and terrace edge, D = gradient of terrace riser, E = distance of vine rows, F = orignal slope, G = zone of application of herbicides (10-40 cm).

Date: June 2003

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, improvement of ground cover

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, increase of surface roughness, increase in organic matter, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, improvement of soil structure, increase in soil fertility

Mulching
Material/ species: cut or chopped cover vegetation
Remarks: dispersed over the whole surface; if possible cutting/chopping (alternating)

Agronomic measure: removing less vegetation cover
Material/ species: cut or chopped cover vegetation, vine leaves and cut branches
Remarks: between vine rows

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: compost
Remarks: only sporadically (every 5-10 year or less)

Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: nitrogen
Quantity/ density: 0-50 kg/ha
Remarks: normally rather little nitrogen

Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: potassium
Quantity/ density: 0-20 kg/ha

Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: magnesium
Quantity/ density: 0-25 kg/ha

Agronomic measure: mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: phosphorus
Quantity/ density: 0-20 kg/ha

Breaking compacted subsoil
Remarks: only on terrace, if possible only every second row/terrace (alternating)

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: different grass species, taraxacum, veronica, legumes, calystegia, geranium...

Terrace: bench level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1.3 m
Spacing between structures (m): 2.5 m

Construction material (earth): only earth of parcel

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 60%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Auteur:

Nicole Güdel, Berne, Switzerland

4.3 Activités de mise en place/ d'établissement

Activité Calendrier des activités (saisonnier)
1. sowing cover vegetation on the terrace riser (for stabilisation) (nonrecurring) winter/spring, usually at the same time as a new plantation is established
2. letting grow natural cover vegetation on terrace (nonrecurring) winter/spring, usually at the same time as a new plantation is established
3. Removing vegetation around vines (diameter of vegetation-free zone: 10 - 40 cm) during season (Mai – October), 2 - 4 times, when necessary.
4. removing old vines winter/spring
5. deep tillage winter/spring
6. construction of terraces winter/spring
7. support of construction of terraces winter/spring

4.4 Coûts et intrants nécessaires à la mise en place

Commentaires:

Duration of establishment phase: 36 month(s)

4.5 Activités d'entretien/ récurrentes

Activité Calendrier/ fréquence
1. cuting and not removing vine leaves and branches winter / annual
2. fertilising (mineral or manure/compost) April/May / annual
3. cutting / chopping and then mulcihng cover vegetation during cropping season (first time April/May) / each row 2-4 times during cropping season
4. cuting and not removing vine leaves and branches during cropping season / several times during cropping season
5. breaking compacted topsoil April/May / each row every 4-8 years
6. application of herbicides (glyphosates) beginning of season (May), if necessary second time in Aug./Sept /once (if necessary twice) during s
7. putting back earth which war fallen from the terrace riser to the terrace winter/spring/if necessary
8. slightly reshaping terraces winter/spring/if necessary

4.6 Coûts et intrants nécessaires aux activités d'entretien/ récurrentes (par an)

Commentaires:

Machinery/ tools: e.g.: walking excavator, hoe, mower with tracked vehicle or portable motor scythe, spading machine with tracked vehicle; knapsack sprayer or biocide t

4.7 Facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts

Décrivez les facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts :

(manual) labour

5. Environnement naturel et humain

5.1 Climat

Précipitations annuelles
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1000 mm
  • 1001-1500 mm
  • 1501-2000 mm
  • 2001-3000 mm
  • 3001-4000 mm
  • > 4000 mm
Spécifications/ commentaires sur les précipitations:

Average: Biel: 1200 mm. Region of Bielersee: 1000 - 1200 mm. Neuchâtel: 930 mm.

Zone agro-climatique
  • subhumide

Thermal climate class: temperate

5.2 Topographie

Pentes moyennes:
  • plat (0-2 %)
  • faible (3-5%)
  • modéré (6-10%)
  • onduleux (11-15%)
  • vallonné (16-30%)
  • raide (31-60%)
  • très raide (>60%)
Reliefs:
  • plateaux/ plaines
  • crêtes
  • flancs/ pentes de montagne
  • flancs/ pentes de colline
  • piémonts/ glacis (bas de pente)
  • fonds de vallée/bas-fonds
Zones altitudinales:
  • 0-100 m
  • 101-500 m
  • 501-1000 m
  • 1001-1500 m
  • 1501-2000 m
  • 2001-2500 m
  • 2501-3000 m
  • 3001-4000 m
  • > 4000 m
Commentaires et précisions supplémentaires sur la topographie:

Altitudinal zone: 501-1000 m a.s.l. (For climatic reasons vines grow hardly above 600 m a.s.l. in Switzerland)
Landforms: Hill slopes (most of them southeastward sloping hills (part of the Jura mountain range))
Slopes on average: Steep (31-60%) (Vines are planted on different slopes. But contour small bench terraces are applied at steep slopes)

5.3 Sols

Profondeur moyenne du sol:
  • très superficiel (0-20 cm)
  • superficiel (21-50 cm)
  • modérément profond (51-80 cm)
  • profond (81-120 cm)
  • très profond (>120 cm)
Texture du sol (de la couche arable):
  • moyen (limoneux)
Matière organique de la couche arable:
  • moyen (1-3%)
Si disponible, joignez une description complète du sol ou précisez les informations disponibles, par ex., type de sol, pH/ acidité du sol, capacité d'échange cationique, azote, salinité, etc.

Soil depth: From shallow to very deep (Soil depth is very irregular, at some places limestone rocks appear at the surface, at other places soil can be quite deep.But if soil is very shallow for the whole parcel contour small bench terraces)
Soil fertilits is medium (Vines are normally grown on rather marginal spots. Compared to the general productivity these soils have a medium fertility. (If measured at the vine itself, soil fertility is sufficient/high))
Topsoil organic matter is medium (loamy,silty) (without / before SWC (green cover))
Soil drainage/infiltration is mostly good, at some spots medium (depressions; when high percentage of clay)
Soil water storage capacity is medium (without / before SWC (green cover)), high (without / before SWC (green cover)) or low (without / before SWC (green cover). Depressions; when high percentage of clay)

5.6 Caractéristiques des exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

Orientation du système de production:
  • commercial/ de marché
Revenus hors exploitation:
  • moins de 10% de tous les revenus
Niveau relatif de richesse:
  • moyen
Niveau de mécanisation:
  • travail manuel
  • mécanisé/ motorisé
Indiquez toute autre caractéristique pertinente des exploitants des terres:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
Off-farm income specification: This is representative for the full time winegrowers. The majority of winegrowers do winegrowing beside a regular off-farm job as a hobby. Nearly all winegrowers have implementeted the SWC technology. Probably there is no difference in hobby-winegrowers and full-time-winegrowers concernring implementation of the SWC technology.
Level of mechanization: Manual labour (most of the work in the vineyard is done by hand (especially harvest)) or mechanised (some of the activities are carried out with fuel driven equipment. But mechanisation is moderate since big and heavy machines cannot been applied in these vineyards).
Market orientation is commercial/market (in the region of the lake of Biel the majority of grapes are pressed to wine an then and sold directly from the farm's wine cellar)

5.7 Superficie moyenne des terres utilisées par les exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

  • < 0,5 ha
  • 0,5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1 000 ha
  • 1 000-10 000 ha
  • > 10 000 ha
Commentaires:

Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology: 0.5-1 ha, 1-2 ha, 2-5 ha, 5-15 ha (only winegrowing land!)

5.8 Propriété foncière, droits d’utilisation des terres et de l'eau

Propriété foncière:
  • individu, avec titre de propriété
Droits d’utilisation des terres:
  • individuel

6. Impacts et conclusions

6.1 Impacts sur site que la Technologie a montrés

Impacts socio-économiques

Production

production agricole

en baisse
en augmentation
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

maximum production capacity is reduced due to 1. Plantation density is smaller and 2. Capacity per vine is reduced due to slight competition of water and nutrients, intensified in the terrace riser under dry conditions

qualité des cultures

en baisse
en augmentation
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Reduced quality of wine occurs when strong competition of water and nutrients happen and nothing is done against it.

risque d'échec de la production

en augmentation
en baisse
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Higher susceptibility to fungal decay due to higher evapotranspiration rate with green cover and therefore humid microclimatic conditions. Other problems are competition over water and nutrients or danger of frost - negligible - only in depressions or plains (due to higher evapotranspiration rate)

Revenus et coûts

revenus agricoles

en baisse
en augmentation
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Primarily due to less costs, especially resulting from less erosion damages in the long term (because of green cover). Secondary due to marketing argument "ecological agricultural production", subsidies related to green cover (direct payment which is only

charge de travail

en augmentation
en baisse
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

More and specific knowledge necessary

Autres impacts socio-économiques

Inputs for mechanisation

increased
decreased
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Special machines needed, mechanisation is almost a must to be economically successful in the long term

Impacts socioculturels

situation sanitaire

détérioré
amélioré
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Healthier than without SWC, less application of biocides and more comfortable and healty posture of body.

institutions communautaires

affaibli
renforcé
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Increased exchange of knowledge and contacts in winegrowers society

institutions nationales

affaibli
renforcé
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Research stations gained new knowledge and attention

connaissances sur la GDT/ dégradation des terres

réduit
amélioré
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Among winegrowers, but perhaps also slightly among consumers (through an ecological marketing argument) or walkers (walking through a green vineyard may arise interest in green cover).

apaisement des conflits

détérioré
amélioré
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Between generations or between farmers applying green cover and others. Reason: farmers are differently attached to traditional values and norms (i.e.: traditionally every plant was seen as unuseful weed and fought with a hoe).

Personal satisfaction / challenge

decreased
increased
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Many farmers apply green cover see green cover as a personal satisfaction or challenge for an ecologically and economically sustainable viticulture

Acceptance by society

Low
High
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Landscape and appearance of Landscape & appearance of vineyard as cultural heritage. Different values an norms of "how a vineyard should look like". Traditionally vines were planted very dense with no vegetation cover in between. Contour small bench terraces are quite new to the area (20-30 years)

Impacts écologiques

Sols

humidité du sol

en baisse
en augmentation
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Especially through improved water retention capacity (due to improved soil structure)

couverture du sol

réduit
amélioré

perte en sol

en augmentation
en baisse
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Mainly due to green cover (rather than terraces)

compaction du sol

en augmentation
réduit
Biodiversité: végétale, animale

espèces étrangères envahissantes

en augmentation
réduit
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Undesirable plant and animal species (i.e. mice (can hamper stability of terrace riser and terrace itself))

contrôle des animaux nuisibles/ maladies

en baisse
en augmentation
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

Through beneficial animals

Réduction des risques de catastrophe et des risques climatiques

vitesse du vent

en augmentation
en baisse
Autres impacts écologiques

Biodiversity

decreased
increased
Commentaires/ spécifiez:

High diversity due to different habitats (extensively managed terrace riser and terrace)

Soil fertility

decreased
increased

6.2 Impacts hors site que la Technologie a montrés

inondations en aval

en augmentation
réduit

envasement en aval

en augmentation
en baisse

pollution des rivières/ nappes phréatiques

en augmentation
réduit

sédiments (indésirables) transportés par le vent

en augmentation
réduit

6.4 Analyse coûts-bénéfices

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts de mise en place (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?
Rentabilité à court terme:

très négative

Rentabilité à long terme:

neutre / équilibrée

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts d'entretien récurrents (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?
Rentabilité à court terme:

légèrement négative

Rentabilité à long terme:

neutre / équilibrée

6.5 Adoption de la Technologie

De tous ceux qui ont adopté la Technologie, combien d'entre eux l'ont fait spontanément, à savoir sans recevoir aucune incitation matérielle, ou aucune rémunération? :
  • 91-100%
Commentaires:

10% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

90% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Contour small bench terraces with green cover are seen as good opportunity for viticulture in steep slopes. Adoption is done mainly spontaneous

7. Références et liens

7.1 Méthodes/ sources d'information

Modules