Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and an interrow green cover on Tuscan vineyard soil
Grapevine cultivation has to face major challenges in order to maintain its long-term resistance and resilience, in which soil health is a key factor. Sustainable management options, such as service crops and beneficial microbial inocula, have been proposed for preserving soil health, biodiversity in vineyards.Commercial and locally sourced mycorrhiza-based inocula were applied in combination with a green cover mix in two organic Mediterranean vineyards. The high arbuscular mycorrhizal fungaldiversity of Tuscan inoculum increased soil mycorrhizal activity in the more intensively cultivated vineyard. The soil health-promoting experimental treatments augmented arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity, and induced moderate, but significant shifts in the community composition at both sites.