Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/646485
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m M a r - A p r 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 6 7 What's carbon sequestration? Another good question. If this woody mass in charred form isn't burning, it's stable and storing carbon. Putting it in the ground essentially locks that car- bon and potential gas in the ground. Because it's storing or absorbing more carbon than it releases, the vineyard in which biochar has been applied becomes a carbon sink. To make it most useful for plants, composted matter is added to bio- char. Removing the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — that's car- bon sequestration. And supposed- ly, once in the ground, biochar can sequester carbon for thousands of years or more. But the vine as well as the trunk and cordons may also contribute to sequestration. Is using biochar in vineyards good for the plants and planet? That's the question Nicole Nie- hues, a graduate student research- er at UC Davis, set out to answer as part of her master's degree work. She wanted to address the con- flicting results she'd seen in the scientific literature regarding use of biochar in vineyards. Starting in April 2013, she looked at grape pomace composted with manure applied with biochar and various other soil amendments in vineyards as a means of carbon storage. Rain and vineyard activity — such as irrigation and mowing — caused carbon dioxide to move above baseline levels periodically. Based on the high levels of uncer- tainty of these fluctuations, Nie- hues could not say definitively that biochar sequestered carbon. Allison Jordan, executive direc- She reported her results as "Effects of Biochar and Organic Floor Fertilization Practices on Vine- yard Soil Greenhouse Gas Efflux and Nitrogen Status" at the 2015 American Society for Enology and Viticulture National Conference. She says the net result of her research was "inconclusive at best." Nicole Niehues recently completed her graduate studies at UC Davis, where she asked the question of whether or not the use of biochar is a good choice for vineyards. For Powdery Mildew and Mite control, grape growers have a choice: JMS Stylet-Oil alternative to early-season sulfur treatment. • Outperforms sulfur as an eradicant on powdery mildew - University researched and rated 10/10. • JMS Stylet-Oil is a stand-alone product for powdery mildew. • Eliminates early season inoculum growth that can cause late-season epidemics. • Unlike sulfur, JMS Stylet-Oil works well in cool weather, protects around the clock, and harmlessly degrades without potential air pollution. Apply this clean white oil early for mite control throughout the season. JMS Stylet-Oil is now available in its conven- tional formulation or an organic formula- tion that is OMRI listed for use in an organic program. Contact JMS for complete information and product data. • Powdery Mildew? • Mites? Headquarters 4423 5th Place SW Vero Beach, FL 32968 Mobile: (772) 713-0758 Fax: (772) 562-7202 styletoil@aol.com www.stylet-oil.com 73585 Williams Lane Pendleton, OR 97801 Office: (541) 276-8566 Fax: (541) 276-6245 styletoil@eoni.com JMS Stylet-Oil ® Choice C M Y CM MY CY CMY K JMSWineDex20112.pdf 1 11/15/11 3:48 PM