181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use?

The health of a grapevine starts at ground level – literally in the soil. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is helping farmers improve the quality of their soils through the Healthy Soils Initiative. Taylor Jones, Ph.D., Director of Viticulture at Star Lane and Dierberg Vineyards used his funding as an opportunity to study the effects of compost. After completing two three-year trials in six different soil types in two American Viticulture Areas, Taylor found that compost additions significantly increased organic matter, Reduced Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium usage by 35 percent, and decreased water use dramatically.

Listen in to hear the only downside to increasing the use of compost on your vineyard.

References:

• 149: Fair Market Trade: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Grapevines
• 151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health
• 163: Onsite Compost Production Using Vineyard Waste  
• 165: Become a Microbe Farmer: Make Compost  
• 167: Use Biochar to Combat Climate Change
• California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Healthy Soils Initiative
• Compost Benefits and Quality for Viticultural Soils
• Compost use in premium vineyard development
• Dierberg Vineyard
• Taylor Jones LinkedIn 
• Tyler Jones: [e-mail]

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