The use of cover crop for weed suppression and competition in limited-irrigation vineyards

Abstract

Soil degradation and climate change put stress on cultivated plants necessitating sustainable weed management practices that reduce herbicide usage and environmental pollution. Cover cropping has emerged as a viable alternative since it has many advantages over traditional herbicides in terms of cultivated plants, soil health, and weed suppression. This three-year study (2020–2023) aimed to examine the performance of cover crops (grass pea, berseem clover, common vetch + triticale, and phacelia) in a drip-irrigated vineyard with restricted water supply in southern Türkiye. The parameters monitored to evaluate the competition between cover crops and weeds were coverage, height, light intensity, shade capacity, dominance, density, and biomass. The common vetch + triticale mixture displaying the highest suppression rates followed by grass pea and phacelia. Cover crops’ height was inversely associated with weed biomass, which suggests that they have the potential to be effective weed management tools because it may provide substantial shading as well as competing performance. The findings of the study highlights the importance of environmentally friendly practices as cover cropping in reducing herbicide reliance and in promoting sustainable vineyard agriculture. Furthermore, the observations of cover crops align with the objectives of the Green Deal suggest a promising approach that enhances soil health be considered to conserve water and foster a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.