Work

Erosion Assessment by a Fast and Low-Cost Procedure in a Vineyard Under Different Soil Management

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Soil erosion in vineyards is a major environmental problem, particularly in hilly Mediterranean environments. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of permanent grass cover (PG), continuous tillage (CT), and green manure (GM) in reducing soil erosion. Furthermore, a new software tool (ISUMmate_1.1.xlsm), based on the improved stock unearthing method (ISUM), was developed and tested to quantify soil mobilization between successive transects along vineyard inter-row. The field trial was carried out over a three-year period in a Tuscany (Italy) vineyard. The results showed that PG significantly improved aggregate stability and soil organic carbon (SOC) content, while exhibiting the lowest erosion rates. In contrast, GM showed the highest erosion rates as a result of soil disturbance associated with cultivation operations and the occurrence of unexpected intense rainfalls. ISUMmate_1.1 has proven to be a reliable tool for monitoring both water- and tillage-induced erosion, providing valuable information for sustainable vineyard management.

Source: Agriculture

DOI: 10.3390/agriculture15212218

Authors: Maria Costanza Andrenelli, Sergio Pellegrini, Gianni Fila, Claudia Becagli, Giuseppe Valboa, Nadia Vignozzi

Institution: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria

Language: English

Topic: Soil erosion and sediment transport

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137