ISHS Acta Horticulturae 754: International Workshop on Advances in Grapevine and Wine Research
RESPONSE OF GRAPEVINE CV. 'TEMPRANILLO' TO IRRIGATION AMOUNT AND PARTIAL ROOTZONE DRYING UNDER CONTRASTING CROP LOAD LEVELS |
| Authors: | D.S. Intrigliolo, J.R. Castel, C. Chirivella |
| Keywords: | stem water potential, stomatal conductance, yield, wine quality |
| Abstract:
This paper reports the effects of irrigation regime and partial rootzone drying (PRD) on water relations, yield and wine quality of ‘Tempranillo’ in a deep, light-clay soil during two consecutive years with contrasting crop loads. PRD was compared to conventional drip irrigation at two levels: 50% and 100% of estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and also to a non-irrigated treatment. Under our experimental conditions, Tempranillo showed a tight stomatal control in response to dry soil and to air VPD, that maintained irrigated and rain fed plants, at similar leaf and stem water potential values at midday. Thus, determinations of water potential either at predawn or early in the morning reflected better actual plant water status than those at midday. PRD, compared to the conventional irrigation, had no effect on water relations, neither yield nor wine quality in both years. The effects of irrigation amount on yield and wine quality were different between years. With low crop load (3.8 kg/vine) irrigation did not affect yield neither wine quality. However, in the second year, with high crop load (10.3 kg/vine), irrigation allowed for a 29 % increase in yield, and it also increased must total soluble solids and wine alcohol content. Other wine quality parameters like total phenols and anthocyanins were not significantly affected by irrigation level and only pH increased with irrigation. Our results suggest that moderate irrigation rates (500-600 m3/ha) can substantially increase grapevine production without affecting wine quality. | |
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