The role of cover crops in enhancing soil health and biodiversity in Mediterranean vineyards
Gonzalo Sacristán-Pérez-Minayo
Soil health is a priority in European policies, such as the EU Soil and Biodiversity Strategies for 2030, owing to land degradation and climate change, with Mediterranean vineyards being especially vulnerable because of their low soil organic matter content and risk of erosion. To improve sustainability, cover crops are increasingly used as alternatives to conventional tillage with bare soils. This study assessed the effects of different ground cover strategies on soil health, grape production,