Cover crop to improve vineyard ecology

Most of the Italian vineyards are planted in hilly areas, where yields are lower and quality higher than in the plains. Of course agronomic management of the slopes must be environmental friendly, above all concerning soil erosion that can be controlled by cover crops. Effects of sown subterranean clover swards on soil erosion, vine productivity and wine quality has been studied in this research. Farm scale results have been extended to the vineyards of the whole Tuscany by a GIS application. Subterranean clover cover crops remarkably reduced soil erosion and vine productivity and influenced positively wine quality. Yields partially increased again at the third year to levels admitted by regulations. It has been possible to attribute different soil erosion risk classes to the vineyards and to suggest different sowing techniques to each class