Soil biology & mycorrhizae
Feed the fungal network that extends the vine’s roots.
The vine forms symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: the hyphal network reaches far beyond the roots, capturing water and phosphorus in exchange for sugars. A vineyard with active mycorrhizae is more efficient and resilient.
These fungi are cultivated more than bought: year-round living roots, no aggressive tillage and low excess phosphorus and soil fungicides are what let them thrive. Inoculation can help in degraded soils, but management is the main lever.
Effort
Low — it is mostly about not destroying what is there.
Cost
Low, unless you opt for commercial inoculants.
Time to result
2–4 seasons for networks to establish.
What this practice regenerates
Impact by goal — click through for detail and metrics.
Soil health & structure
Hyphae produce glomalin, which cements aggregates, and structure the biological network that underpins soil fertility.
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Water resilience & drought
The hyphal network extends the soil volume mined for water, improving the vine’s resistance to water stress.
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Input reduction & vine resilience
By improving phosphorus and nutrient capture, they reduce the need for mineral fertilisation.
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Carbon sequestration & climate
Glomalin and fungal biomass are stable carbon pools, contributing to soil sequestration.
Time horizon: 3–6 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
Biodiversity & ecosystem
An active mycobiota is a pillar of soil biodiversity and supports below-ground food chains.
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
What to measure for this pairing
How it works
Fungal hyphae act as an extension of the root system, increasing the absorbing surface for water and nutrients and linking vines into a shared network.
How to implement
- 1Keep living roots year-round with a permanent cover.
- 2Avoid tillage that ruptures the hyphal networks.
- 3Moderate phosphorus and soil fungicides that inhibit the fungi.
- 4Consider inoculation in new plantings or degraded soils.
What to measure
Frequently asked
Is it worth buying mycorrhizal inoculants?
In degraded soils or new plantings it can help, but in healthy soils the fungi are already present — the return comes mostly from letting them thrive.
What harms mycorrhizae most?
Frequent tillage, excess phosphorus and some soil fungicides. Reduced tillage and balanced nutrition are the best allies.
Related reading
Related practices
How GrapeFlow helps
Implement and document this practice by plot, with an audit-ready history.
Electronic field notebook (Portugal)
In Portugal, log every operation — cover sowing, grazing, composting, mowing — by plot and date, with an audit-ready history that proves the practice over the years.
Plot registry
Every practice tied to the right plot, with area, variety, rootstock and history — so you know where you did what and can compare blocks.
Carbon footprint calculator (free)
A public, no-sign-up calculator to estimate the footprint per bottle and see where the biggest sources are before changing the practice.