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Influence of soil cover with grass and leguminous plants on fruit characteristics of table grape variety Niagara Rosada

Grape vineyard in Southern Brazil utilize a large amount of mulch during autumn-winter season demanding extra efforts and costs, being its acquisition very difficult nowadays. In order to evaluate the possibility of replacing the tradicionally mulch by green cover species in the inter-row strip, two experiments were carried out in Indaiatuba and Jundiaí, SP, Brazil, from 1999/00 to 2003/04, with the table variety Niagara Rosada. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications and six treatments: 1) no weeded area; 2) cut spontaneous local vegetation; 3) mulch of Brachiaria decumbens; 4) green cover of Avena strigosa from March to October followed by green cover of Mucuna deeringiana from October to March; 5) green cover of Lathyrus sativus from March to October followed by green cover of M. deeringiana from October to March; and 6) Lupinus albus from March to October followed by green cover of M. deeringiana from October to March. The weight, lengh and width of cluster, rachis and berries of grape, the total number of berries and its pedicel diameter were evaluated. The average values were compared by Duncan test at the level of 5%. The results of all characteristics obtained with the green cover crops were equal or more favorable than those ones using grass mulch cover (B. decumbens), being possible to utilize green manure crops in the inter-rows of grape vineyard without any negative interference on some commercial characteristics of grape fruits.

Vitis sp.; soil management; grape cluster; fruit quality


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