Soil biology & mycorrhizae for soil health & structure
The impact, measured
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
Why it works
Hyphae produce glomalin, which cements aggregates, and structure the biological network that underpins soil fertility.
What to measure for this pairing
Why this goal matters
Soil health is the foundation of regenerative viticulture. A soil with good structure, biological activity and organic matter infiltrates and holds more water, releases nutrients gradually and supports a vine that leans less on external inputs.
It is measured by organic matter, aggregate stability, infiltration and soil life (earthworms, microbial respiration). Every one of these responds to how you manage cover, tillage and added organic matter — and all are recordable season over season.
Goal indicators
Market & certification: Increasingly required by sustainability schemes and buyers auditing soil practices.
How to implement the practice
- 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.
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.
Same practice, other goals
Same goal, other practices — Soil
How GrapeFlow helps
The proof certification and buyers ask for — logged by plot and date.
Electronic field notebook
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 & map
Every practice tied to the right plot on the map, with area, variety and history — so you know where you did what and can compare blocks.
Sustainability & carbon-footprint module
Water, energy, fuels and ecological infrastructure in one place, with the carbon footprint computed per season and per bottle.