Project aktivities
On selceted areas of Kloster Pforta vineyard, climate-adapted production methods and cultivation techniques were tested, e.g. non-pruning or minimal-pruning systems. This sort of vine training system is rarely used in Germany and not known in the Saale-Unstrut region until now. This cultivation technique allows the vine plant to grow naturally as liana, contrary to the normally used spur-pruned technique. Positive effects of the new technique is a vitalization of the grapes, a loosening of the grape structure that decreases the disease tendency and therefore reduces pesticide input. Higher foliation increases root development, leading to higher drought resistance of the vine plant. An additional advantage of this training system is the reduction of labor costs.
Results, autumn 2020 (containing English summary)
Responsible partner: Landesweingut Kloster Pforta
Against the background of the expected climate change, we compiled seed mixtures that developed into vegetation types with high water retention, good erosion protection and high humification. The resulting vegetation provided nectar and pollen sources for butterflies, hoverflies and wild bees and the flowering aspects should be of high aesthetical value. The use of local ecotypes of wild plants guaranteed an optimal adaptation to regional site conditions, and ensured suitable feeding habitats for native animal groups. In selecting undemanding, low growing calcareous dry grassland species, we were trying to minimize the water stress for the vine plants.
On the study site Köppelberg vineyard (near Schulpforta), we installed a large-scale trial in complete block design with three variants (sowing of two wild plant mixtures and one commercial mixture between vine rows) in four repetitions. To study the effect of ensuing vegetation types, we measured e.g. water stress and vitality of the vine plants as well as grape quality and quantity. In addition, different parameters with regard to vegetation and soil development and erosion potential, as well as abundance of selected animal groups (butterflies, hoverflies, wild bees) were monitored regularly on all sowing variants.
Results, autumn 2020 (containing English summary)
Responsible partner: Hochschule Anhalt
In using sheep grazing with robust breeds, we aimed to decrease the use of machinery on steep slopes. To avoid erosion, we planned to establish a calcareous dry grassland between the vine rows by sowing seed mixtures from regional seed propagation of wild plants (see above). The incorporation of an adjacent orchard in the grazing concept kept the orchard in a favorable conservation status and allowed flexible use of sheep in the vineyard. The sheep were responsible for canopy management on the one hand and defoliated the grape zone when the grapes were still sour on the other hand. Defoliation by sheep was most effective because the sheep removed leaves inside the vine rows whereas defoliation machines removed leaves only from the outsides. This resulted in a distinct reduction of fungus infection of grapes.
On the study site Saalhäuser vineyard (near Bad Kösen), a trial with two management variants (grazing, mowing) and three repetitions was installed. Different parameters regarding e.g. vegetation and soil development, erosion potential, vitality of vine plants, and grape quality and quantity were measured in regular intervals to allow comparisons between grazed and mown variants. In addition, comparisons between vine plants defoliated by sheep and by machine were made.
Results, autumn 2020 (containing English summary)
Responsible partner: Hochschule Anhalt
The focus was on the question to what extent measures to plant a species-rich wild plant mixture are suitable for reducing soil erosion in vineyards. As a result, it turned out that inter-rows with wild plants had lowest erosion frequency compared to conventional greening.
Furthermore, a forecasting tool was developed with the help of which winegrowers can independently assess the erosion risk in vineyards on the basis of easy-to-optain input data.
Results, autumn 2020
Responsible partner: Jena Geos Ingenieurbüro
Effects of different methods for re-vegetation and management of inter-rows in vineyards were compared concerning their impact on biodiversity and selected ecosystem services: provision (e.g. grape production and quality), regulation & maintenance (e.g. pollination, pest control, water retention capacity, erosion control) and cultural (e.g. education, tourism, aesthetics).
Selected indicators are e.g. number of flowering pollen and nectar plants, number of butterflies, hoverflies, and wild bees, different soil parameters, rooting, soil loss, water stress of vine plants, vine vitality, acidity and suger content of grapes, harvest volume). In a second step, we included the expected climate change in the equation, calculating the advantages of climate-adapted management measures in vineyards with cost-benefit-analyses.
Results, autumn 2020
Responsible partner: Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt
In the long-term the success of VinEcoS significantly depends on the efforts to transfer successful tested methods and results. Thus we will implement target group specific events and publications; e.g. workshops and on-site excursions, school lessons in the vineyard, as well as presentations on third-party events.
(responsible: all partners)