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: one of them was situated in vineyards of the University Training Farm of Mendel University in Žabcice near Brno, the other was in vineyards situated in the cadastre of wine-growing municipality Velke Bilovice. Established were altogether three variants of experiments with application of crushed grapevine wood (chips): 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 Žabcice.