Term for an agriculturally utilised area intended for resting. However, it also refers to the corresponding period of time. A vineyard fallow is necessary for at least one to three years after the uprooting of a vineyard to ensure that new vines can thrive. Several years are required if the old vines had to be removed due to diseases caused by nematodes or viruses or because of stunted growth. After uprooting, a cover crop (short-term planting) is carried out. Plants are planted that root well and enrich the soil with organic matter.
The size of vineyards often includes the fallow parts. One of the typical characteristics of a monoculture is that there are no fallow periods over long periods of time. An old term for an unused arable area or a vineyard that is planted but not utilised is Driesche.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi