Dry matter accumulation and nitrogen in annual winter grass used as cover crops in vineyards

Abstract

The cover crops utilization planted within the vineyard has been one of the conservative options proposed in the soil management. Additionally to another variables of technology, it has increased yield and quality of the vineyard Uruguayan production, in the recent two decades. The purpose of this study was to compare different winter, annual cover crops available in the country, based on yield in dry matter, nitrogen content in tissues, and nitrogen absorption. Three varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare), two of oats (Avena strigosa and
Avena Fatua), two of triticale (Triticale sp.), and one variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum), were evaluated in 1997, 1998, and 1999. A completely randomized blocks design was used, taken plant samples periodically along the crop cycle. In addition, it was studied the behavior of the crops between the line of vineyard plants in commercial fields, in 1997. The yield in dry matter at the recommended time of cutting varied from 2800 and 7700 kg ha^-1. The crops that maintained higher yield among years were the triticales and Avena fatua, while Avena strigosa, and wheat were the crops with lower yields. The barley varieties showed good behavior in years without high disease incidences. Most of the N content in plants depended on the year and soil fertility.
This content at flowering was less off to 15 g kg^-1. It is supposed that this fact would produce immobilization or a null effect on the N availability in the soil. The results suggest that the most promissory crops would be the triticale, Avena fatua, and Clipper barley.