Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Introducing heterogeneity measurements in terroir studies. Application in the região demarcada do douro (n portugal)

Introducing heterogeneity measurements in terroir studies. Application in the região demarcada do douro (n portugal)

Abstract

Terroir zoning studies have to manage the heterogeneity and complexity of the landscape properties and processes. The varying geology is one of the main landscape properties conditioning the spatial variability of terroirs. An entropy-based index used to characterize the heterogeneity of soil particle size distribution has been recently recognized to be controlled by the lithological properties at landscape scale. This index, known as the Balanced Entropy Index (BEI), which has been identified as a very good predictor of soil water content, is a promising tool in geosciences because it provides a continuous parameterization of soil texture that enables establishing quantitative relationships between soil texture and all the hydropedological attributes related to it.

In this study, carried out in the Portuguese winegrowing region called Região Demarcada do Douro (RD Douro), we explored the BEI in the lithostratigraphic units, and its potential relationship with the vineyard distribution and characteristics at plot scale. The data set for this work was the soil map of RD Douro scale 1/25 000, the vineyard distribution, and the information of the soil map database, which includes analytical and morphological data of 1 217 soil profiles.

Results evidenced that, in areas with similar lithological properties, vineyard plant density is linearly related with the soil texture heterogeneity, being this relationship stronger in metamorphic lithologies than in granitic lithologies. In light of this and other remarkable results we concluded that the BEI is a useful new tool that might have multiple applications in terroir studies.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Joaquín CÁMARA, Alberto LÁZARO, Vicente GÓMEZ-MIGUEL

Departamento de Producción Agraria, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 2, Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

soil texture heterogeneity, Balanced Entropy Index, plant density, fractals, RD Douro

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Physiological responses of crimson seedless (Vitis vinifera) grapevines to altered micro climatic conditions and different water treatments in the Breede River Valley of South Africa

Challenging conditions created by limited water supply and changes in the climate require an understanding of the physiological status of table grapes along the whole value chain. This is critical to develop tools for regulatory management of growth balances and grape quality. This study aimed to determine the impact of different amounts of water and an altered micro-climate (complete covering of vineyards with plastic) on the physiological reaction of the grapevine during the growth season.

Read More

EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE ISOLATES FOR THEIR POTENTIAL USE AS FERMENTATION STARTERS IN ASSYRTIKO WINE

Assyrtiko is a rare ancient grape variety that constitutes one of the most popular in Greece. The objective of the current research was to evaluate indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates as fermentation starters and also test the possible strain impact on volatile profile of Assyrtiko wine. 163 S. cerevisiae isolates, which were previously selected from spontaneous alcoholic fermentation, were identified at strain level by interdelta-PCR genomic fingerprinting. Yeasts strains were examined for their fermentative capacity in laboratory scale fermentation on pasteurized Assyrtiko grape must.

Read More

NEW TOOL FOR SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND COLOUR MODIFICATIONS IN WINES

Measuring the effect of oxygen consumption on the colour of wines as the level of dissolved oxygen decreases over time is very useful to know how much oxygen a wine is able to consume without significantly altering its colour. The changes produced in wine after being exposed to high oxygen concen-trations have been studied by different authors, but in all cases the wine has been analysed once the oxygen consumption process has been completed. This work presents the results obtained with the use of an equipment designed and made to measure simultaneously the level of dissolved oxygen and the spectrum of the wine, during the oxygen consumption process from saturation levels with air to very low levels, which indicate the total consumption of the dosed oxygen.

Read More

Spectral features of vine leaves are influenced by their mineral content

The reflectance spectra of vegetation carry potentially useful information that can be used to determine chemical composition and discriminate between vegetation classes. If compared with analytical methods such as conventional chemical analysis, reflectance measurement provides non-destructive, economic, near real-time data. 

Read More

The soil application of a plant-derived protein hydrolysate speeds up selectively the ripening-specific processes in table grape

Grapevine is one of the most extensively cultivated fruit crops, playing a crucial role in the economies of many grape-growing regions around the world.

Read More