Technologies

Permanent grass cover in vineyards [Hungary]

Sorközök füvesítése szőlőben

technologies_6194 - Hungary

Completeness: 96%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Hungary

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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)

Integrated Pasture Management Planning in Mountainous Regions
approaches

Integrated Pasture Management Planning in Mountainous Regions [Georgia]

The unsustainable use of pastures and forest areas has led to soil erosion, degradation, desertification and loss of biodiversity in the high mountain areas of the South Caucasus. The development of pasture passports is part of a broader approach to a strategic pasture management plan for Tusheti. This showcase includes …

  • Compiler: Hanns Kirchmeir

2. Description of the SLM Technology

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

Comments, short description:

video is not available

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

Country:

Hungary

Region/ State/ Province:

Veszprém County

Further specification of location:

Szentantalfa

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

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. Classification of the SLM Technology

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


Cropland

Cropland

  • Tree and shrub cropping
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • grapes

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

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The interrow space between grape lines are covered by permanent grass. Interrow space is 2-3 m.

Author:

Piroska Kassai

Date:

31/10/2022

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

ha

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • USD
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

50

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. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

600.00

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Water quality refers to:

surface water

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • women
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged

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

  • < 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
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

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

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Surface runoff decreases because infiltration improves significantly in vineyards with grass cover crops

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Soil

soil loss

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Grass cover crops in vineyards can reduce soil erosion rates by four- to six-times compared to tillage.

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

micro-climate

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Humidity of microclimate is increased, resulting in higher risk of diseases

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

damage on public/ private infrastructure

increased
reduced

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)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

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. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

5

  • interviews with land users

5

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

14/06/2022

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

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