Under-vine mulching (herbicide-free) for water resilience & drought
The impact, measured
Time horizon: Immediate
Why it works
The cover sharply cuts soil evaporation in the row, conserving moisture in the root zone.
What to measure for this pairing
Why this goal matters
In Mediterranean climates water is the limiting factor. Regenerative viticulture manages soil to infiltrate more rainfall, cut evaporation and raise plant-available water — so the vine leans less on irrigation and rides out summer stress.
Covered, organic-matter-rich, deeply-rooted soil holds more water and loses less to run-off and evaporation. Tracking soil moisture and water use per hectare shows the return on these practices across seasons.
Goal indicators
Market & certification: Critical where water is scarce or licensed; the basis of dry-farmed wine claims.
How to implement the practice
- 1Choose the material (straw, wood chip, pomace, chipped prunings).
- 2Apply a layer thick enough to shade the row.
- 3Top up as it breaks down.
- 4Record the area kept herbicide-free.
Frequently asked
Doesn’t mulch attract rodents or disease?
A well-managed, aerated mulch is rarely a problem. Keeping the layer off the trunk and choosing suitable materials minimises any risk.
How much material per hectare?
It depends on row width and layer thickness, but on-site prunings, pomace and chip cover much of the need.
Same practice, other goals
Same goal, other practices — Water
How GrapeFlow helps
The proof certification and buyers ask for — logged by plot and date.
Phytosanitary register & copper balance
Every treatment is logged with product, rate and active substance, and copper is summed on the 7-year rolling mean — direct proof of input reduction.
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.