Abstract
In sustainable viticulture, inter-row vegetation management may improve biodiversity and influence grape quality, but the relationship among vegetation, pollinators, and grape quality still remains insufficiently researched. A three-year study was conducted in a vineyard in western Romania, to evaluate bare soil (BS), spontaneous vegetation (SV) and a multispecies cover crop mixture (CC) inter-row management practice, in terms of vegetation traits, pollinator groups, grape yield and quality in four cultivars. Vegetation cover, flower density and plant species richness were recorded; pollinators were sampled using transects and classified into five groups; grape quality parameters, phenolic compounds, and anthocyanins (red cultivars), were measured at harvest time. CC had consistently the highest vegetation cover, flower density and species richness, whereas BS had the lowest values. Plant diversity explained over 92% of the variation in total pollinator abundance, whereas inter-row management accounted for 76% of differences in pollinator group compositions. Multivariate analyses showed a trade-off: BS favoured yield-related traits while CC enhanced phenolic and anthocyanin accumulation. Quality parameters were well described by full-factorial models (R² ranging from 0.799 to 0.996). Cover crop mixtures may serve as multifunctional tools to increase biodiversity and grape quality, but potential competition for resources should be considered. Inter-row vegetation management is a promising approach to reconcile ecological and oenological goals, with cultivar- and season-specific responses warranting further investigation.