Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Spatial suitability analysis for site selection of vineyards using biophysical models and computational intelligence

Spatial suitability analysis for site selection of vineyards using biophysical models and computational intelligence

Abstract

Developing a sustainable agricultural production system and acquiring the full potential of land resources requires employing land-use assessment. This entails knowledge of the climate, soil, and topography of the area of interest. There is a great potential for Growth and development of grapes (Vitis vinefera L.) in the Pacific North West region of the United States. However, there are few studies that have focused on the development of a comprehensive spatial suitability system. The main objective of this study was to develop a spatial site selection system that can help select suitable areas for grapevine cultivation.

Several bio-climatic indices such as Growing Degree Days (GDD), Frost Free Days (FFD), Huglin Index (HI) were calculated for a period of 30 years using daily weather data obtained from the University of Idaho Gridded Surface Meteorological dataset. The soil data were obtained from the gSSURGO dataset and several properties such as soil depth, pH, available water holding capacity (AWC), and drainage class were extracted for the study area. The topographical data were obtained from the National Elevation dataset. The data were then reclassified using fuzzy logic and the soil, weather, and topographic suitability maps were developed. The final vineyard potential scores were obtained by combining the soil, weather, and topographic suitability. The potential scores had a range from 0 to 1, where 0 pertains to non-suitable areas and 1 refers to optimal sites. Consequently, the vineyard potential score for the vineyards that have been established in the state of Washington were obtained from the Crop Scape land cover maps and used as a measure of evaluation.

The spatial site selection system was able to classify the study area to 10 different regions based on their vineyard potential. The evaluation results indicated that 84% of the vineyards that are already established in the study area have a vineyard potential score ranging from 0.91 to 1. Another 15 % had a potential score ranging from 0.8 to 0.9. The results of this study can help decision makers, growers, and others with conducting a more precise land-use assessment for grapevine production.

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Golnaz Badr

Department of Viticulture and Enology, Washington State University

Contact the author

Keywords

Terroir, wine, viticulture, spatial suitability, zoning

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Electromagnetic conductivity mapping and harvest zoning: deciphering relationships between soil and wine quality

Using electromagnetic conductivity mapping and GIS technology, we identified two unique soil zones within a 0.8-hectare Cabernet Franc block in central Virginia, USA.

The effects of perennial cover crop management on soil temperature and vine water status

The implications of perennial cover crop management on vine vigor and yield have been well documented. However, whereas multiple studies show that cover crop management affects grapevine dry matter production, water, and nutrient status, the specific effects of a new hybrid perennial cover crop on soil temperature and its relationship to vine water status in vineyards has not been explored. This study will compare 3 different perennial cover crop combinations and tillage practices with a no-till seeding of a new hybrid perennial, Poa bulbosa (Pb).

Influence of must fining on wine pinking: relationship between electrochemical and colorimetric measurements and pinking attitude of wine

“Pinking” is a term used to define an abnormal pink coloration assumed by white wines in certain cases. Despite the are many hypotheses about the causes of this phenomenon, pinking still represents an issue for the wine industry. In the absence of reliable preventive strategies, wineries often rely on treatments such as charcoal fining, which is also negatively impacting wine aroma. This study aims at evaluating the potential of different fining agents based on animal or vegetal proteins to prevent wine pinking when applied at the level of must clarification. The work was carried out on Lugana wines, which is well-recognised as sensible to pinking problems. METHODS: Two experimental Lugana musts were obtained by applying a standard winemaking protocol and were then clarified with different commercial preparations based on vegetal proteins or casein, alone or in combination with PVPP. A control only using pectolytic enzyme was also prepared. Finings were carried out at 4°C for 16h, and the clear must (200 NTU) was then fermented in controlled conditions.

Barrel-to-Barrel Variation of Color and Phenolic Composition in Barrel-Aged Red Wine

Tangible variation of sensory characteristics is often perceived in wine aged in similar barrels. This variation is mostly explained by differences in the wood chemical composition, and in the production of the barrels. Despite these facts, the literature concerning barrel-to-barrel variation and its effect on wine sensory and chemical characteristics is very scarce [1]. In this study, the barrel-to-barrel variation in barrel-aged wines was examined in respect of the most important phenolic compounds of oenological interest and chromatic characteristics, considering both the effects of the (individual) barrel and cooperage. A red wine was aged in 49 new medium-toasted oak (Quercus petraea) barrels, from four cooperages, for 12 months

Effect of two water deficit regimes on the agronomic response of 12 grapevine varieties cultivated in a semi-arid climate

The Mediterranean basin is one of the most vulnerable regions to Climate Change effects. According to unanimous forecasts, the vineyards of Castilla-La Mancha will be among the most adversely affected by rising temperatures and water scarcity during the vine’s vegetative period. One potential strategy to mitigate the negative impacts of these changes involves the identification of grapevine varieties with superior water use efficiency, while ensuring satisfactory yields and grape quality.