EQA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, cilt.30, ss.37-48, 2018 (ESCI)
In vineyards, degraded areas characterized by a reduction in quantity or quality of grape production are frequent, even if managed under organic farming. Degradation is mainly caused by soil truncation, soil erosion, or salts enrichment. Recovering strategies implemented in 19 degraded vineyards in 5 countries concerned: (i) composted organic amendments, or seeding of cover crops for (ii) green manure or (iii) dry mulch. This study aims to minutely detail areas involved in experimental designs in relation to vineyard management and pedo-climatic conditions. This survey is useful to better understand other contributions dealing with RESOLVE project reported in the present special issue. The potential soil erosion by water was estimated for the 38 degraded and non-degraded plots, confirming that is a common agent of land degradation in vineyards. The results suggested that compost is the more expensive treatment, but involves greater certainty of success. Indeed, the nature of degradation requires optimum seedbed preparation to grow green manure crops. Dry mulching plants needs less tillage operations, helping the recovery of soil functionality.