Articles
EFFECTS OF THE IRRIGATION REGIME AND PARTIAL ROOTZONE DRYING IN ‘VERMENTINO’ GRAPEVINES IN SARDINIA, ITALY
Article number
889_7
Pages
83 – 89
Language
English
Abstract
A field irrigation trial was carried out during three years (2006 to 2008) in Vermentino grapevines in Sardinia (Italy). Grapevines were irrigated according to different irrigation strategies: full irrigation (FI, control), partial rootzone drying (PRD), deficit irrigation (DI) and the irrigation scheme employed by the vineyard manager (FIM). DI was applied at two irrigation regimes, 50 and 25% of FI. PRD was applied only at 50% of FI. A randomised block design was used to assess the effects of the irrigation treatments on vine performance and berry composition.
In addition, vine water status was monitored by measuring midday stem water potential.
The results indicated that treatments DI50 (50% of FI) and DI25 (25% of FI) significantly improved berry composition without a reduction in yield when compared to the FI treatment.
The PRD treatment reduced yield the first and third years of study but PRD increased yield the second year when compared to the FI treatment.
In comparison to the DI50, the PRD treatment did not lead to any improvement in grape composition that could justify the complexity and high cost of the PRD irrigation system and management.
The FIM practice reduced yield and berry quality especially in the first year when compared to the other treatments.
The DI25 treatment had the highest water-use efficiency across years.
It is concluded that DI25 was the best irrigation strategy in terms of vine productivity and berry composition.
In addition, vine water status was monitored by measuring midday stem water potential.
The results indicated that treatments DI50 (50% of FI) and DI25 (25% of FI) significantly improved berry composition without a reduction in yield when compared to the FI treatment.
The PRD treatment reduced yield the first and third years of study but PRD increased yield the second year when compared to the FI treatment.
In comparison to the DI50, the PRD treatment did not lead to any improvement in grape composition that could justify the complexity and high cost of the PRD irrigation system and management.
The FIM practice reduced yield and berry quality especially in the first year when compared to the other treatments.
The DI25 treatment had the highest water-use efficiency across years.
It is concluded that DI25 was the best irrigation strategy in terms of vine productivity and berry composition.
Authors
L. De Pau, D. Satta, L. Zucca, G. Bandino, M.G. Mameli
Keywords
irrigation scheduling, must composition, water stress, water use efficiency, must quality
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