Influence of two different cover crops on soil N availability, N nutritional status, and grape yeast-assimilable N (YAN) in a cv. Tempranillo vineyard

Abstract

Aim The aim was to study the effects of two different cover crops (leguminous versus gramineous) on soil NO 3 − -N availability, grapevine N status, and yeastassimilable N (YAN) and amino acid profile in the must of a cv. Tempranillo vineyard from La Rioja (Spain) over 3 years.Methods Three treatments were established: gramineous (barley) and leguminous (Persian clover) cover crops and conventional tillage. Soil total N and extractable NH 4 + -N at bloom, soil NO 3 − -N content from budbreak to postharvest, leaf N content at bloom, and free amino acids and ammonia in must were monitored.Results Each year, the barley cover crop treatment had lower soil NO 3 − -N than tillage, while the clover treatment showed lower soil NO 3 − -N than tillage in 2009 and showed higher values in 2010 and 2011. In 2011 leaf N content, yeastassimilable N (YAN), and some amino acids in the grapes were lower in barley cover crop treatment thus affecting the amino acid profile. Meanwhile, the clover cover crop did not have these effects. Furthermore, relationships between leaf N content and various amino acids were also found.Conclusions With the barley cover crop treatment, soil N availability decreased from the first year of the experiment, provoking a decrease in N grapevine status and in content of YAN and various amino acids at the third year. In contrast, clover cover crop maintained N grapevine status, YAN, and amino acid profile similar to conventional tillage. Therefore, our study shows how soil N can be managed both within a year and from year to year when two different cover crops are sown and how the grapevine N nutritional status and YAN content and amino acid profile can be modified in the must.

Effect of two doses of urea foliar application on leaves and grape nitrogen composition during two vintages

“…The amino acids quantified were aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), asparagine (Asn), serine (Ser), glutamine (Gln), histidine (His), glycine (Gly), threonine (Thr), citrulline (Cit), arginine (Arg), alanine (Ala), γ‐aminobutyric acid (Gaba), tyrosine (Tyr), cysteine (Cys), valine (Val), methionine (Met), tryptophan (Trp), phenylalanine (Phe), isoleucine (Ile), ornithine (Orn), leucine (Leu), lysine (Lys) and proline (Pro). Chromatographic conditions employed are as described by Pérez‐Álvarez et al …”

Influence on wine biogenic amine composition of modifications to soil N availability and grapevine N by cover crops

“…Each season, when grapes reached optimal maturity conditions according to the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) Rioja standards, 18 grapevines were randomly harvested in each repetition. For more details of the yield production, see Pérez‐Álvarez et al . Grapes were destemmed, crushed and placed into 100 L stainless steel fermentation vats.…”

“…Vineyard soil management is one of the factors that can modify soil conditions such as soil moisture, air or temperature, affecting soil nitrogen mineralization. Furthermore, the ability of legumes to fix atmospheric nitrogen can increase the nitrogen amount in soil when used as cover crops in vineyards . However, the establishment in the vineyard of other non‐leguminous cover crops, e.g.…”

“…However, the establishment in the vineyard of other non‐leguminous cover crops, e.g. gramineous, could modify grapevine nitrogen status because of their competition with grapevine for soil nitrate . Nevertheless, the presence of cover crops does not always have those effects of nitrogen competitivity, and does not always lead to reduced vigor and yield or to enhanced must quality .…”

Contribution of mineral N to young grapevine in the presence or absence of cover crops

“…Growing plants and residues deposited on the soil surface contribute to the dissipation of kinetic energy of raindrops and the reduction of soil particle breakdown by water erosion, also promoting nutrient release in soil (Brunetto et al, 2011;Brunetto et al, 2014;Rumpel et al, 2015). Cover crops in the grapevine planting rows are sometimes desiccated with post-emergent herbicides (Giese et al, 2014) to avoid their competition for water and nutri- for grapevine uptake (Pérez-Álvarez et al, 2015). If this happens, less transport and accumulation of N in annual organs of grapevines is expected (Glad et al, 1994).…”