Nutrient release during the decomposition of mowed perennial ryegrass and white clover and its contribution to nitrogen nutrition of grapevine

Abstract

Sustainable management of mineral nutrition in vineyards, as well as in other fruit plantations, should aim at exploiting the use of internal sources of nutrients, in order to reduce the need for external nutrient inputs. In this paper we explore the potential of the grassed alleys to provide nutrients to the vines. We followed for one vegetative season the decomposition of ryegrass and clover, frequently present as floor vegetation in vineyards, using litter bags filled with 15 N-enriched grass material. In addition, we quantified the amount of nitrogen (N) transferred from the decomposing litter to field-grown grapevines. Ryegrass and clover had a relatively rapid decomposition rate, with a loss of C approaching 80% in only 16 weeks. The release of nutrients was particularly fast for potassium (95% in 16 weeks) followed by nitrogen (80%), calcium (70-80%), phosphorous (65-85%), magnesium (70-75%), and sulfur (60-70%). In spite of the rapid release of N from decomposing material, the N uptake by grapevines was on average less than 4% of the initial amount of N present in the litter of ryegrass and clover. Even if N release during the decomposition of mowed perennial ryegrass and white clover little contributed to the N nutrition of grapevine in the same growing season, most N from mowed grassed was still recovered in the soil.

Carbon and nitrogen cycling in an integrated soybean-beef cattle production system under different grazing intensities

“…While evaluating decomposition rates of cover crops in Southern Brazil, Aita & Giacomini (2003) stated that approximately 80% N remained in oat (Avena sativa L.) residues 15 days after these were allocated to the field. However, Brunetto et al (2011) reported that 80% N from ryegrass residue was released in 16 weeks, a greater fraction than the values found in the present study, which averaged 40%.…”

Phosphorus fractions in sandy soils of vineyards in southern Brazil

“…The higher organic P content extracted by 0.5 mol L -1 NaHCO 3 , especially in the 0-5 and 6-10 cm layer of the soils of vineyards 1 and 2, may be attributed to the deposition and posterior decomposition of litter of the above-ground part of cover species that co-habit the vineyards, as well as pruned branches, dead grapevine leaves and even senescent roots, both from the cover crop and grapevines (Brunetto et al, 2011).…”

Application of nitrogen sources on grapevines and effect on yield and must composition

“…The same yield of grapes on the grapevines with and without the application of fertilizer, urea or organic compost in crop seasons like 2009/2010, with months with more rain over the vegetative period, as well as in crop seasons (2010/2011) where the volume of rainfall in most of the months was less than the other two crop seasons evaluated (Table 1), may be attributed to the release of N derived from the labile organic matter of the soil and from the litter in decomposition on the soil surface of the vineyards, among which are the pruned leaves and branches, but also from decaying roots within the soil (BRUNETTO et al, 2011). Moreover, it may be attributed to biological fixation of N by native or planted leguminous species that cohabitate the vineyards, as well as the release of APPLICATION OF NITROGEN SOURCES ON GRAPEVINES... the N contained in their litter in decomposition on the soil surface (PATRICK et al, 2004).…”