Terroir 1996 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Cultures des vignobles en forte pente: possibilités de mécanisation. Effet de l’exposition et de l’orientation des rangs

Cultures des vignobles en forte pente: possibilités de mécanisation. Effet de l’exposition et de l’orientation des rangs

Abstract

Plus de la moitié du vignoble suisse (14’000 ha) est situé sur des coteaux en forte pente (> 30%). Dans certains vignobles, la pente naturelle du terrain a été réduite par la construction de terrasses soutenues par des murs. Ces murs, établis depuis des générations, constituent souvent une valeur paysagère de haut niveau. Dans ces situations, la culture de la vigne s’est généralement faite dans le sens de la pente, où une multitude de ceps (> 10’000 ceps/ha) conduits en gobelet sur échalas tirent le meilleur profit du rayonnement lumineux. Ce système de conduite limite fortement les possibilités de mécanisation et exige de ce fait un nombre élevé d’heures de main-d’œuvre par an. Pendant de nombreuses années, les façons culturales ont été faites au moyen d’outils tirés par un câble, entraîné par un treuil. Cette mécanisation est pratiquement abandonnée aujourd’hui, l’entretien des sols se faisant essentiellement par désherbage chimique. Cette pratique, liée à la diminution des apports de matière organique, a contribué à augmenter la sensibilité des sols à l’érosion, en particulier dans les terrains peu perméables.
La réduction des risques d’érosion et la nécessité de diminuer fortement les coûts de production ont exigé une transformation complète de la culture des vignobles en pente. Dans les situations où l’utilisation du tracteur interligne était possible (pente inférieure à 35%, grandeur des parcelles et possibilités d’accès suffisantes), le système de conduite mi-large (150 à 200 cm d’interligne), avec des rangs à un seul plan de palissage orienté dans le sens de la pente, s’est fortement développé. Les possibilités de mécanisation sont proches de celles des vignobles de plaine. Une gestion du sol, adaptée à la nature du terrain, doit y être appliquée pour réduire au maximum les dégâts d’érosion. L’enherbement des sols constitue une technique idéale lorsque les disponibilités en eau sont suffisantes.
Dans les situations où l’emploi du tracteur, dans le sens de la pente, n’était pas possible (déclivité supérieure à 35%, forme des parcelles inadaptée), la rationalisation s’est faite en orientant les rangs en travers de la pente et en cultivant la vigne en banquettes, selon les courbes de niveau. Cette technique, traditionnellement utilisée dans le vignoble du Tessin pour réduire les risques d’érosion et d’éboulement dus à la forte pluviométrie, inégalement répartie avec souvent des orages violents, s’est largement répandue dans les vignobles de suisse alémanique et française. La culture en banquettes garantit une bonne protection du sol contre l’érosion, augmente sensiblement les possibilités de mécanisation des vignobles en forte pente et diminue la pénibilité du travail manuel (Murisier, 1981; Murisier et al., 1984; Murisier et Ferretti, 1999).

DOI:

Publication date: February 24, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2000

Type: Article

Authors

F. MURISIER, M. FERRETTI, V. ZUFFEREY

Station fédérale de recherches en production végétale
de Changins, Centre viticole du Caudoz, CH-1009 PULLY

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2000

Citation

Related articles…

Assessment of climate change impacts on water needs and growing cycle on grapevine in three DOs of NE Spain

This study assessed the suitability of grapevine growing in three DOs (Empordà, Pla de Bages and Penedès) of Catalonia (NE Spain) over the 21st century. For this purpose, an estimation of water needs and agroclimatic and phenological indicators was made. Climate change impacts were estimated at 1 km pixel resolution using temperature and precipitation projections from several general circulation models (GCM) and two climate change scenarios: RCP 4.5 (stabilization scenario) and RCP 8.5 (worst-case scenario). Potential crop evapotranspiration (following FAO procedure) and a daily water balance considering soil water holding capacity were used to estimate actual evapotranspiration of vines and, finally, water needs. Dynamics would be similar in the three DOs studied although the magnitude of impact differs. Water needs would be 2 and 3 times greater (ranging from 0 to more than 1500 m3/ha) than current water needs at both climate change scenarios. Moreover, blooming date would advance from 3 to 6 weeks, harvest date from 1 to 2.5 months, resulting in growing cycles from 10 to 80 days shorter. It should also be noted that frost risk would decrease from 6 to 76%, the number of days with temperatures above 30ºC during ripening would rise from 48 to 500% and tropical nights (minimum temperature >20ºC) at ripening would increase from 28 to 150%, depending on the scenario and the DOs. The impacts of climate change in the three DOs could result in significant limitations for grapevine cultivation and wine production if adaptive strategies are not applied. This result could serve as a basis for the design of specific and particular adaptation strategies to improve and maintain vineyards in the DOs studied and could be extrapolated to similar DOs and regions.

Climate, Viticulture, and Wine … my how things have changed!

The planet is warmer than at any time in our recorded past and increasing greenhouse emissions and persistence in the climate system means that continued warming is highly likely. Climate change has already altered the basic framework of growing grapes for wine production worldwide and will likely continue to do so for years to come. The wine sector can continue to play an important role in leading the agricultural sector in addressing climate change. From developing on…

Local adaptation tools to ensure the viticultural sustainability in a changing climate

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...

Geospatial trends of bioclimatic indexes in the topographically complex region of Barolo DOCG

Barolo DOCG is an economically important wine producing region in Northwest Italy. It is a small region of approximately 70 km2 gross area. The topography is very complex with steep sloped hills ranging in elevation from below 200 m to 550 m. Barolo DOCG wine is made exclusively from the Nebbiolo grape. Bioclimatic indexes are often used in viticulture to gain a better understanding of broader climate trends which can be compared temporally and geographically. These indexes are also used for identifying potential phenological timing, growing region suitability, and potential risks associated with expected climatic changes. Understanding how topography influences bioclimatic indexes can help with understanding of mesoscale climate behaviour leading to improved decision making and risk management strategies. The average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures, the Cool Night Index, the Huglin Index, and the monthly diurnal range (from July to October) were calculated using data from 45 weather stations within a 40 km radius of the Barolo DOCG growing area between the years 1996 and 2019. Linear and multiple regression models were developed using independent variables (elevation, aspect, slope) extracted from a digital elevation model to identify significant relationships. Bioclimatic indexes were then kriged with external drift using independent variables that showed significant relationships with the bioclimatic index using a 100 m resolution grid. The maximum monthly temperatures and the Huglin Index showed consistent significant negative relationships with elevation in all years. The minimum monthly temperatures showed no relationship with elevation but in some months a small but significant relationship was observed with aspect. Due to the lack of a relationship between minimum monthly temperatures and elevation compared to the significant relationship between maximum monthly temperatures and elevation, monthly diurnal range had a negative relationship with elevation.

Effect of vigour and number of clusters on eonological parameters and metabolic profile of Cabernet Sauvignon red wines

Vegetative growth and yield are reported to affect grape and wine quality. They can be controlled through different techniques linked to vine management. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of vine vigour and number of clusters per vine on physicochemical composition and phenolic profile of red wines. The experiment was carried out during two vegetative cycles, with cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grafted onto Paulsen 1103. Three vine vigour were defined, according to shoot weight at previous harvests, being low, medium and high. Five treatments of number of clusters were used for each vigour, with 15, 22, 29, 36, and 45 clusters per vine. Grapes from all treatments were harvested in the same day from Brix and total acidity criteria. Thirty days after bottling, classical analyzes and phenolic compounds were performed. As results, different responses were obtained from each vintage. In 2020, a dry season from veraison to harvest, grapes and wines obtained from low vigour treatment and 45 clusters per vine was the highest in sugar and alcohol content respectively, while grapes and wines from high vigour and 15 clusters presented the lowest sugar and alcohol content. Total anthocyanins were higher in treatment with low vigour and 15 clusters, while the lowest amounts were found in low vigour with 45 clusters, as well as medium and high vigour with 36 clusters per vine. Total tannins were higher in high vigour with 22 clusters and medium vigour with 29 clusters, while were lower in low vigour with 36 clusters. In 2021, a wet season at harvest, responses were different, and great variations were observed between treatments. As conclusions, yield and vine vigour had strong influence on grape and wine quality, promoting different enological potentials on which can be indicated/used for aging strategies of red and even rosé wines.