Mulch ado about vineyard trial results

News story from The Land

The benefits of mulch in vineyard production has been highlighted in a three-year NSW DPI research trial.

NSW DPI research scientist, Yin Chan, said the composting mulch trial funded by Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) was conducted on six vineyards, both conventional and organic, in the Cowra, Canowindra and Murrumbateman areas.

"The trial compared berry yield and quality, water usage, weed control and wine quality from two mulch treatments with the growers standard practice," Dr Chan said.

Trial data and cost benefit analysis results showed that there were consistently big improvements from high mulch levels on low-yielding areas.

This year's vintage saw yield increases of up to 1.6 tonnes per hectare and in 2005 growers saved as much as 20 per cent on water use by using mulch.

Hundreds of winegrape growers have eagerly embraced the results at workshops in the Hunter, Mudgee, Orange, Cowra and Griffith districts.

They were also able to rate the 2007 trial vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines produced from mulch and no-mulch treated vines.

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