RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Cover Crop Water Use in Relation to Vineyard Floor Management Practices JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO Am. J. Enol. Vitic. FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture SP ajev.2013.13025 DO 10.5344/ajev.2013.13025 A1 Michela Centinari A1 Ilaria Filippetti A1 Taryn Bauerle A1 Gianluca Allegro A1 Gabriele Valentini A1 Stefano Poni YR 2013 UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2013/07/02/ajev.2013.13025.abstract AB The aim of our study was to compare soil evaporation (Es) versus cover crop (Festuca arundinacea var. barfelix) evapotranspiration (Ecc) within a vineyard ecosystem and to investigate the effect of mowing in reducing cover crop Ecc, hence, its belowground competitiveness. The study was carried out in a 2-year-old Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard, grafted to SO4, in Bologna, Italy. Mini-lysimeters and a portable gas-exchange chamber system were used to investigate cover crop Ecc in relation to mowing and bare soil management practices. Our results show that, immediately after mowing, Ecc markedly decreased, with the percentage of reduction ranging between 35–49%, depending on the amount of clipped biomass. The extent of the Ecc reduction decreased overtime as the cover crop regrew. Over the 28-day period following the mowing, Es was 35 and 48% lower than mowed and un-mowed cover crop Ecc, respectively. This study shows that mowing could be used as a water management strategy to decrease vine-cover crop competition over a short time period.