Contexte

One of the possible alternatives to the use of under-vine weeders, is the use of mulch, particularly organic mulch made up of a variety of plant materials. In general, organic mulch inhibits the growth of weeds thanks to both its physical effects (light interception and temperature) and its chemical effects (the possible release of allelopathic substances) (Oliveira et al., 2014). Other studies (Dhima et al., 2006) have found that organic mulch based on winter cereals (wheat, barley) reduces the emergence of certain weeds by 87%, proving the allelopathic effect of extracts of these cereals on the germination and development of weeds. It has also been observed that the effect of mulch not only reduces the population of weeds in vines, but also improves a number of soil quality indicators, such as humidity and structure (Zribi et al., 2011; DeVetter et al., 2015). Other mulches, like those based on pine needles, have also been found to improve the quality of soil, reducing salinity by as much as 62% (Zhang et al., 2008). However, there are no studies that assess the possible collateral effects on the vines with a view to avoiding unsuitable options.
In this study, the use of different types of bioherbicides that burn or dry out the weeds is also proposed. Their efficacy, however, depends on the dose and on the type and development stage of the weeds (Chinery, 2002). The implementation of this alternative, however, is hindered by a lack of the necessary experimental knowledge and technological advances. Using alternatives to traditional mechanical methods at vineyards to control weeds may lead to a number of positive outcomes.