Research Brief – Cover crops for irrigated vineyards in B.C.: A look at nitrogen and carbon benefits

Which cover crops can boost vineyard soil health?

A recent BC study tested 23 plant species as cover crops in semi-arid, irrigated vineyards to see which ones could best add carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to the soil. The goal? Support long-term vineyard productivity and sustainability.

Well-chosen cover crops can suppress weeds, improve soil structure, and boost biodiversity. But the wrong species can backfire, competing with vines for water and nutrients or attracting pests.

This study included two phases: first, researchers measured the biomass, N and C concentration of each cover crop. Then, they milled the plant material and mixed it back into the soil to see how it affected grapevine growth and nutrient uptake.

Results showed wide variation in how different species affected soil nutrients and young grapevine development.

🍇 Find the full plain language summary of this research in the BC Food Web library.