Functional diversity of sown and spontaneous service crops and their impacts on the soil, the vine and biological regulations in an agroecological vineyard

Viticulture is one of the oldest forms of agriculture, its global significance enhances the concerns arising from the impending climate changes, making the search for sustainable and ecologically sound management techniques crucial. Aligned with this necessity, the integration of service crops in vineyard management strategies has become a growing topic due to their capability to drive ecosystem resilience by promoting soil quality, facilitating biodiversity conservation, and hosting biological control agents. This study investigates the impact of agroecological management systems in a Mediterranean vineyard in two consecutive years. Plant community functional traits were measured, along with root markers and indicators for soil quality, vine vigor and biological regulation. The study demonstrates that vineyard management system significantly influences plant community functional traits. The employment of soil tillage reduces biomass production, taxonomic and functional diversity favoring more ruderal species. Agroecological systems while reducing vine vigor, selected plant communities with traits that contributed to the presence of natural enemies and to soil structure and stability. Our findings highlight the potential of agroecological practices to enhance vineyard sustainability by promoting biodiversity, supporting ecosystem services and ensuring the longevity of the sector.