A Brock University-led team is gaining insights into nature-based practices for climate change adaptation, pest management and boosting soil quality through research in three Niagara organic vineyards.
Led by Professor of Biology Liette Vasseur, the group is testing the use of cover crops — primarily flowering indigenous species — to improve resilience to droughts, flooding and other climate change impacts.
These native plants are usually more adapted to local climate and environmental variations than species introduced commercially from outside North America, says Vasseur.
Early results on how seven native species planted last year interreacted with the vineyards are promising.
“Increasing biodiversity through the use of a mix of native species can help to enhance soil health and diversity, buffer against weather extremes, prevent erosion and attract predators of insect pests,” says Vasseur.
The cover crops are also having an impact on the presence of insects.
“Our first observations suggest that leafhoppers are going into the flowers of the cover crops instead of being on the vines, which may reduce damage to the grapes,” says Vasseur.
She says the cover crops are attracting fairy flies and parasitoids, which are among beneficial insects that destroy vineyard pests.
To monitor the types and abundance of insects found in the vineyards, the team is using pieces of coloured cardboard coated with glue that attract and trap insects.
Honours student Angel Lainscek set up yellow, green and red sticky traps in vineyards at the Redstone, Southbrook and Tawse wineries last summer and again this year.
The team has identified three factors – how high the cards are placed, where they’re located along the rows and their colour – that determine the type and number of insects trapped, says Vasseur
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