The Last Straw!

Using straw (Hay) as an alternative ground cover is catching on in the Darling area. The producers have seen the significant effect on soil temperature, soil health and soil moisture retention.

In the beginning of this year, a camera crew from Denmark was filming a short piece in one of our vineyards that had Hay as a ground cover. This particular day was extremely hot. One of the guys had a laser thermometer. He pointed it on top of the Hay - 45 degrees Celsius. We lifted the 15cm thick cover and pointed it directly on the soil surface - 33 degrees Celsius. Massive difference and the soil felt cool and still had some moisture in.

Another interesting thing about using Hay as a ground cover, is the fact that Hay has a fairly large population of Protozoa in it. Earthworms also feed on these micro creatures, thus creating a even better environment for these guys.

The organic matter in the soil increased dramatically over two years. A hard, dry compact soil was transformed into a cool, moist soil with an ideal granular structure. The water holding capacity of the soil is also increased, which is crucial in a dry land area like ours.

There are many more pro's to using Hay, and it by far outweighs the con's, which is fire hazard. But, managed properly, this can be avoided or controlled.