terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Traditional agroforestry vineyards, sources of inspiration for the agroecological transition of viticulture

Traditional agroforestry vineyards, sources of inspiration for the agroecological transition of viticulture

Abstract

A unique “terroir” can be found in southern Bolivia, which combines the specific features of climate, topography and altitude of high valleys, with the management of grapevines staked on trees. It is one of the rare remnants of agroforestry viticulture. A survey was carried out among 29 grapegrowers in three valleys, to characterize the structure and management of these vineyards, and identify the services they expect from trees. Farms were small (2.2 ha on average) and 85% of vineyards were less than 1 ha. Viticulture was associated with vegetable, fruit and fodder production, sometimes in the same fields. Molle trees were found in all plots, together with one or two other native tree species. Traditional grapevine varieties such as Negra Criolla, Moscatel de Alejandría and Vicchoqueña were grown with a large range of densities from 1550 to 9500 vines ha-1. From 18 to 30% of them were staked on trees, with 1.2 to 4.9 vines per tree. The management of these vineyards (irrigation, fertilization and grapevine protection) was described, the most particular technical operation being the coordinated pruning of trees and grapevines. Three types of management could be identified in the three valleys. Grapegrowers had a clear idea of the ecosystem services they expected from trees in their vineyards. The main one was protection against climate hazards (hail, frost, flood). Then they expected benefits in terms of pest and disease control, improvement of soil fertility and resulting yield. At last, some producers claimed that tree-staking was quicker and cheaper than conventional trellising. It can be hypothesized then that agroforestry is a promising technique for the agroecological transition of viticulture. Its contribution to the “terroir” of the high valleys of southern Bolivia and its link with the specificities of the wines and spirits produced there remain to be explored.

DOI:

Publication date: May 5, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Pablo Oliva Oller1.2, Martin Notaro3.5, Erick Langer4 and Christian Gary5

1IDEPRO Desarrollo Empresarial, Tarija, Bolivia
2Fundación FAUTAPO, Camargo, Bolivia
3CIRAD, UMR ABSys, Montpellier, France
4School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington. D.C., USA
5ABSys, Univ Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France

Contact the author

Keywords

agroforestry, ecosystem services, native trees, criollo grapes, agroecology

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Multivariate data analysis applied on Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for the prediction of tannins levels during red wine fermentation

Red wine is a beverage with one of the highest polyphenol concentration, which are extracted during the maceration step of the winemaking process.

Water status response of Vitis vinifera L. cv Cabernet-Sauvignon during the first years within the long-term VineyardFACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment) study

Understanding the water-use responses of grapevines to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations is mandatory when assessing the impact of climate change on viticulture as it is a critical part of the adaptation process.

Climatic potential to produce grapes for wine-making in the tropical north region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The tropical north region of Minas Gerais State is one of the least developed of Brazil and viticulture could be an alternative to develop its agriculture zone. The objective of this work was to evaluate the wine grape production climatic potential of that region.

Assessment of the impact of actions in the vineyard and its surrounding environment on biodiversity in Rioja Alavesa (Spain)

Traditional viticulture areas have experienced in the last decades an intensification of field practices, linked to an increased use of fertilisers and phytosanitary products, and to a more intensive mechanization and uniformization of the landscape. This change in management has sometimes led to higher rates of soil erosion andloss of soil structure, fertility decline, groundwater contamination, and to an increased pressure of pests and diseases. Additionally, intensification usually leads to a simplification of landscapes, of particular concern in prestigious wine grape regions where the economical revenue encourages the conversion of land use from natural habitats to high value wine grape production. To revert this trend, it is necessary that growers implement actions that promote biodiversity in their vineyards. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the implementation of cover crops, vegetational corridors, dry stone walls and vineyard biodiversity hotspots estimated through the study of arthropods. The work has been carried out in four vineyards in Rioja Alavesa belonging to Ostatu winery, where these infrastructures were implemented in 2020. The presence and diversity of arthropods was studied by capturing them at different times in the season and at different distances from the infrastructure using pit-fall traps in the soil and yellow, white and blue chromatic traps at the canopy level. This is a preliminary study in which all adult insects were sorted to the taxonomic level of order and Coleoptera were classified to morphospecies. The results obtained show that there is a relationship between the basic characteristics of the vineyard and the arthropods captured, with a positive effect, although also dependent on the vineyard, of the presence of infrastructure.

Méthode et outils de valorisation des terroirs en cave coopérative

Depuis le début des années 90, les vignerons des Caves Coopératives de l’Appellation “Côtes du Rhône” se sont penchés, au sein des structures de réflexion du Syndicat Général, sur deux axes de réflexion:
– Détermination des critères de sélection et de rémunération différenciée des apports de vendange;
– Organisation des sélections de vendanges sur la base des terroirs afin d’augmenter quantitativement le potentiel de sélection au sein de l’unité de production.