Under-vine mulching (herbicide-free) for carbon sequestration & climate
The impact, measured
Time horizon: 2–4 seasons
Why it works
It valorises organic residues as cover and cuts the diesel of repeated mechanical weeding in the row.
What to measure for this pairing
Why this goal matters
A vineyard can be a carbon sink, not only a source of emissions. Practices that raise soil organic matter and perennial biomass pull CO₂ out of the atmosphere and store it in the ground, while cutting diesel, synthetic fertiliser and spraying.
Soil carbon is slow to build and easy to lose to aggressive tillage. Documenting practices and measuring organic matter over years is what underpins credible carbon claims and access to low-carbon markets.
Goal indicators
Market & certification: Relevant for footprint reporting, low-carbon labels and agricultural carbon credits.
How to implement the practice
- 1Choose the material (straw, wood chip, pomace, chipped prunings).
- 2Apply a layer thick enough to shade the row.
- 3Top up as it breaks down.
- 4Record the area kept herbicide-free.
Frequently asked
Doesn’t mulch attract rodents or disease?
A well-managed, aerated mulch is rarely a problem. Keeping the layer off the trunk and choosing suitable materials minimises any risk.
How much material per hectare?
It depends on row width and layer thickness, but on-site prunings, pomace and chip cover much of the need.
Same practice, other goals
Same goal, other practices — Carbon
How GrapeFlow helps
The proof certification and buyers ask for — logged by plot and date.
Phytosanitary register & copper balance
Every treatment is logged with product, rate and active substance, and copper is summed on the 7-year rolling mean — direct proof of input reduction.
Electronic field notebook
Log every operation — cover sowing, grazing, composting, mowing — by plot and date, with an audit-ready history that proves the practice over the years.
Plot registry & map
Every practice tied to the right plot on the map, with area, variety and history — so you know where you did what and can compare blocks.