16th April 2009
Although it has been pretty dry in the Loire since Christmas, there was enough rain the day before to produce this puddle in this compacted, weed-killered vineyard in Les Montils in AC Touraine. The adjoining vineyard, which belongs to the Puzelats (Domaine de Tue-Boeuf) and which is cultivated, had no standing water. It is clear that the soil of this vineyard has been compacted by heavy tractors – a tyre mark is clearly visible in the puddle – and that water cannot drain into the soil. This is another example of a disadvantage of using weedkillers especially if heavy tractors are also used.
