Effect of ploughing-down of grapevine chips on soil structure when using special agricultural machinery

Within the period of 2008-2011, changes in soil structure were studied in two selected localities as follows: one of them was situated in vineyards of the University Training Farm of Mendel University in Zabcice near Brno, the other one was in vineyards situated near Velke Bilovice (Czech Republic). Three variants of experiments with application of crushed grapevine wood (chips) were established as follows: Variant 1: control; Variant 2: crushed grapevine wood ploughed down to the depth of 0.10 m; Variant 3: crushed grapevine wood + grass spread on the soil surface as a mulch. Grapevine canes were crushed to chips using a special agricultural machinery while the soil in inter-rows was processed using conventional tilling machines. The obtained results showed that the best coefficient of structurality (expressing the degree of destruction of soil structure) was recorded in Variants 2 in both localities. Considering values of this coefficient it could be concluded that just this variant showed a positive effect on soil structure. This variant reduced the compaction of soil caused by the movement of agricultural machines in vineyard inter-rows. Crushed grapevine waste wood can therefore compensate losses of organic matter in soil. Better values of structurality coefficient were recorded in the locality Zabcice than in the locality Velke Bilovice.