Research Reveals Microbiome Impact of Vineyard Groundcover

Penn State plant scientists found that planting grass groundcovers between vineyard rows changes the soil microbiome as much as a meter below the surface. The research team compared how vineyards with and without groundcover in the vine row impacted the soil microbiome, finding that vines with groundcover had a unique microbiome signature with the abundance of bacteria and fungi species shifting across the soil profile under groundcovers. “Because vineyard soil microbes influence vine health, performance and can operate as a reservoir of microbes for above-ground tissues — the stems, leaves and grapes — adopting under-vine groundcovers may provide a biology-driven means for combining production goals with soil-health stewardship,” explains co-lead author Hayden Bock. Research shows that in-row groundcovers can both benefit vineyard soils and reduce the need for herbicide applications.

Related ATTRA publication: Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and Vineyards