How to increase grapes yield (Vitis vinifera) through Precision viticulture application

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Precision viticulture application

Precision viticulture technology, along with other tools such as different global positioning systems (dGPS) and geographical information systems (GIS), promotes the capacity for grape and wine producers to acquire detailed geo-referenced information about vineyard performance and to start using this to tailor production of both grapes and wine according to expectations of vineyard performance, and desired goals in terms of both yield, quality and the environment.

Viticulture precision process (Figure 1) begins with yield mapping and the acquisition of complementary information followed by interpretation and evaluation of the information leading to implementation of targeted management. This is followed by further observation. The process of data acquisition and use is therefore continuous, and improvements to management, are incremental. Over time, data collected during the observation stage take on a predictive value

 

Tools

 

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

The NDVI image is an excellent tool to design quality; sampling zones based upon the NDVI classifications. It estimates the sink size ratio the relative abundance of photo synthetically active organs (leaves) with regards to photosynthate demanding organs (mainly bunches).

 

Soil Mapping

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) has been widely used to interpret soil spatial variability. Initially used to assess soil salinity, the use of EC in soil studies has expanded to include: mapping soil types; characterizing soil water content and flow patterns; assessing variations in soil texture, compaction, organic matter content, and pH; and determining the depth to subsurface horizons, stratigraphic layers or bedrock, among other uses. Variation of conductivity across soil types is one of the main advantages of using this technology.

Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks deployed in vineyards are used for monitoring site conditions such as temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, solar radiation, relative humidity, soil moisturedecision-making, soil-temperature, sap flow, and leaf wetness, for management decision making purposes.

The NAV (Network Avanzato per il Vigneto – Advanced Vineyard Network) system is a wireless sensor network designed and developed with the aim of remote real-time monitoring and collecting of micrometeorological parameters in a vineyard. The system includes a base agrometeorological station (Master Unit) and a series of peripheral wireless nodes (Slave Units) located in the vineyard. The Master Unit is a typical single point monitoring station placed outside the vineyard in a representative site to collect agrometeorological data.

Reference:

Ozdemir, G., Sessiz, A., & Pekitkan, F. G. (2017). Precision Viticulture tools to production of high quality grapes. Scientific Papers. Series B. Horticulture, 61.