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Freyburg (dpa) - The Freyburg-Unstrut winegrowers' association started a test project to combat weeds with biodegradable mats on Thursday.
Placed under the vines, the material serves to direct rainwater to the vine, even on steep slopes, announced the association.
The water seeps through the mats and soaks the soil well, which then remains moist for longer under the mats and protected from drying out.
In addition, the growth of weeds is inhibited.
After a season, the mulch mats decompose and add humus to the soil.
According to the information, the test project is a research project of the Society for Sustainable Use of Materials from Halle.
There, residues from biogas plants are processed into various products - including the mats that are used to prevent weeds, where chemical agents often have to be used otherwise.
The research project is supported by the state winery Kloster Pforta and the winegrowers' association Freyburg-Unstrut, among others.
According to the information, around 400 winegrowers belong to the cooperative.
They cultivate around 400 hectares of vineyards in the growing area, mainly in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210422-99-311775 / 2