W i n e s & V i n e s s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 35
Interestingly, despite the clear positive
trends, the authors concluded that it is too
early to draw a generalization about the use
of biochar in vineyards. They stated that the
influences of soil type, climate, grape variety,
secondary vegetation and microbial coloni-
zation on wine grape quality are too great
to assume the results will be the same in
other locations. However, the positive
results stimulated them to begin large-scale
vineyard trials (started in 2011) in Spain,
France, Germany and Italy—so we can
expect to see more results of vineyard
biochar research in the near future.
Given the potential of biochar to
sequester carbon for a very long time,
along with its properties of nutrient and
water uptake and exchange with plants, I
feel it is a product worth keeping tabs on
as a potentially important soil amendment
for vineyards in many situations. As more
research is done and prices stabilize, it may
prove to be an economically viable treatment
option to improve vineyard soil quality.
Dr. Cliff Ohmart is vice president of profes-
sional services for SureHarvest and author of
"View from the Vineyard: A practical guide to
sustainable wine grape growing." Previously
he served as research/IPM director at the
Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission.
He has been writing about sustainable wine-
growing issues for Wines & Vines since 1998.
RefeReNCes
international Biochar initiative: biochar-international.org
u.s. Biochar initiative: biochar.us.com
sonoma Biochar initiative
:
sonomabiocharinitiative.org
ithaka institute: ithaka-institut.org/en/home
Downsides to biochar: scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/
viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=cppa_capstones
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