Soil and Water Science

 

Innovative research, which has been internationally acclaimed, has led to cover crops as tillage practice being widely implemented by the grapevine industries.  Millions are spent annually on soil tillage in perennial crops.  Research which aims to establish guidelines for more cost-effective, sustainable and environment friendly soil tillage practices in wine grapes, drying grapes and deciduous fruit is currently receiving attention.​

Given the large volumes of low quality wastewater produced by wineries, sustainable use of winery wastewater for irrigation of vineyards with respect to the effect on soils, vineyard performance and wine quality was investigated. This research work is continuous and the team is focusing on the re-use of winery wastewater for irrigation of vineyards in different environments.

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To ensure optimum yield and product quality, timely irrigation is essential. Energy and labour inputs are reduced to a minimum by applying the correct amount of water, resulting in a cost benefit for the producer. Irrigation research is centered around the determination of the exact water requirements at various growth stages of the plant.  This knowledge serves as backbone for all specialist irrigation recommendations.​

Alternative waste management strategies for the South African wine industry’s solid waste need to be investigated, since the current ones (costly waste treatment companies, dumping in landfills and on site and unmonitored composting) are neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly. The aim of the study was to make compost of acceptable standard or quality using wine filter wastes derived from the use of mainly perlite and diatomaceous earth during the wine making processes, together with other grape and vineyard materials. ​