Effects of conventional and organic (manure) fertilization on soil, plant tissue nutrients and berry yields in vineyards. The use of the original native soil as a control

Abstract

The effects of conventional and organic (manure) fertilization on soils of vineyards were examined in the area of Nemea in southern Greece. The soil properties of the adjacent natural environment (maquis), which served as a control (considering the land use changes as treatments), were also examined and compared with those of the vineyards. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference among them. The results rejected the null hypothesis. It was found that the maquis top soil had the highest C concentration than both types of vineyards and the organic vineyard had significantly higher C concentration than the conventional one. The organic soil N followed the same pattern. The vine leaves (blades) in the conventional vineyards had significantly higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn. The average values of Mg and Zn concentrations in leaves in the organic vineyards were below the suggested ranges for nutrient sufficiency in vines and for this reason a foliar application of Mg and Zn is recommended for the organic vineyards. The average berry yield was significantly higher in the conventional vineyards.

Keywords:

• vineyards
• fertilization
• manure
• maquis
• nutrients
• calcareous soils
• leaves

Acknowledgments

We thank everyone who has supported us to reach our goals and especially all the farmers for allowing us to conduct the experiments in their fields. The authors also express their sincere thanks to H. Mitropoulou for her help with the analytical work.

Additional information

Funding

The research in this work was funded by the European Social Fund and National Greek Resources in the framework of the Action “Agroetak.” This Action was about funding innovative ideas of self-employed PhDs, not employed by third parties, to design and implement Research and Technological Developmental Innovation projects of applied research in agriculture and training of these results to final beneficiaries of the production base (farmers, businesses, members of public administration, and other stakeholders).