Vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley are predominately planted to perennial grass cover in the alleyways of vineyards. This grass cover is grown to increase worker and equipment traction, as well as reduce erosion and manage vine vegetative vigor. However, with increasing frequencies of drought and warming temperatures, the use of...
The majority of grapes grown in Oregon are produced in Western Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where two-thirds of the acreage is planted to Pinot noir. The production of Pinot noir in the Willamette Valley comes at a high cost, and growers are seeking ways to increase profits while maintaining quality fruit...
Winegrapes are an important crop for Oregon agriculture, ranking amongst the top ten agricultural commodities based on farmgate value. The most widely planted winegrape cultivar in the state is ‘Pinot noir’ (Vitis vinifera L.), and the majority of acreage is produced in the Willamette Valley. Production of quality ‘Pinot noir’...
Vertically shoot positioned (VSP) training systems are common in Oregon's Willamette Valley, where deep fertile soils and high regional precipitation task growers with curbing vegetative vigor within this system. Management strategies, such as canopy hedging and cluster-zone leaf removal, are used to improve microclimate within the canopy and around the...
Vineyard management strategies, including vineyard floor management and crop level management, can be used to influence vine vigor and fruit composition. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of these practices on Pinot Noir in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Managing crop levels is common in cool climate vineyard production though...
Five vineyard floor management treatments were evaluated in a young vineyard in western Oregon to better understand the effects on vine growth and nutrition, soil moisture dynamics, and weed control during 2009 and 2010. Treatments included two mulched treatments where mowed alleyway residue was transferred in-row at rates of 1x...