TY - JOUR T1 - Influence of Floor Management Technique on Grapevine Growth, Disease Pressure, and Juice and Wine Composition: A Review JF - American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO - Am. J. Enol. Vitic. DO - 10.5344/ajev.2011.10001 SP - ajev.2011.10001 AU - Bibiana Guerra AU - Kerri Steenwerth Y1 - 2011/11/11 UR - http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2011/11/09/ajev.2011.10001.abstract N2 - Vineyard floor management has multiple goals that encompass improving weed management and soil conservation, reducing soil resource availability to control vine vigor, and influencing desirable aspects in wine quality. This review covers effects of cultivation, weed control, cover crops and mulch on vine growth and balance, disease pressure, yield, and juice and wine quality in many growing regions (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, and the Western United States); recommendations for practical use; and research needs. More literature on mulching and cover cropping than cultivation and herbicide use was published in the last decade, suggesting stronger interest in cover cropping and mulching practices for vineyards. Cover crops have the potential to improve soil and vine health, can be adapted to many climates and soils, and may influence vine vigor by adjusting parameters such as the length of their growth period, coverage of the vineyard floor, and aggressiveness. Cover crops increased juice soluble solids, anthocyanins and other phenolic components; and decreased titratable acidity and pH. They were associated with red wines judged superior to those issued from noncover-cropped vines. Use of organic mulches resulted in improved vine balance, soil water content and friability; increased yields; and reduced pathogen and pest pressure. Plastic and fabric mulches remain impractical due to high installation cost. Application of newer techniques like flame weeding or soil steaming is limited due to difficulty in targeting the appropriate stage of weed growth and limited susceptibility of some weed species to these techniques. Research needs include development of multi-year, multi-disciplinary studies that use a mechanistic approach to link management practices to soil processes, grapevine responses, grape and wine composition, and sensory characteristics. ER -