Typical vineyard soils in Rheinhessen
Soil is the top layer of the earth. It covers the rock. Sometimes it is only a few centimeters thick and sometimes it can be several meters. The vine uses the soil for anchoring and as a nutrient and water reservoir. Yet, the soil also has great influence on the microclimate, which is important for vine growth and grape ripeness.
Medium to deep, rocky clay soil, moderate storage capacity for plant-available soil water, limited ventilation, nutrient-rich, calcareous, moderate heatability, limited root penetration
Deep brick-red, calcareous, clayey loam soil, good water storage capacity, adequate ventilation, good nutrition supply, calcareous, sufficient rooting, medium heatability
Shallow to medium-sized, very lime-rich, very stony, sandy loam soil, low storage capacity for soil water available to plants, rich in nutrients, rich in lime, good aeration, good heatability, limited rootability
Shallow to medium depth, lime-rich, stony, clayey loam soil, low storage capacity for soil water available to plants, calcareous, good heatability, moderate rootability
Shallow, very stony, sandy-clay loam soil, low storage capacity for soil water available to plants, sufficient aeration, good nutrient supply, good heatability, limited root depth
Low to medium depth, stony, sandy loam soil, moderate storage capacity for plant-available soil water, good ventilation, poor in nutriets, acid soil reaction, good heatability, moderately root-breaking
Medium-sized, stony, sandy loam soil, moderate storage capacity for soil water available for plants, good aeration, poor in nutrients, acidic soil reaction, good heatability, moderate to good root penetration
Medium-sized, stony, sandy loam soil, lower storage capacity for soil water available to plants, drought stress in dry years, good permeability and aeration, poor in nutrients, neutral to acidic soil reaction, good heatability, moderately to well rootable