Enhancing viticulture sustainability with biochar: results of field experiments in Italy

Abstract

The increasing vulnerability of viticulture to climate change necessitates innovative solutions to improve its sustainability and resilience. The B-Wine project explored the use of biochar as a soil amendment to enhance soil fertility, optimize water and fertilizer use, and promote carbon sequestration, thereby reducing the sector’s environmental footprint. We investigated the effect of biochar application (16 t ha-1), obtained from the carbonization of orchard pruning waste, on plant water relations of V. vinifera in tree field experiment in central Italy. Precision agriculture techniques, including drone-based monitoring, were employed to assess vegetative status and water stress levels. Complementary eco-physiological sampling and chemical-physical soil analyses were conducted. Environmental impacts and carbon dioxide emissions were evaluated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Results demonstrated that biochar significantly improves soil water retention and enhances the leaf area index (LAI) under climatic stress conditions. Treated plants exhibited reduced water stress, evidenced by higher leaf water potential values, and achieved up to a 28% productivity increase compared to control plots. Positive correlations were observed between spectral, vegetative, and eco-physiological indices, highlighting improved vegetative and productive conditions in the treated plots). Also, soil analyses indicated a substantial increase in soil available water content, decrease bulk density and increase the Soil physical and hydrological properties in biochar amended plots. These findings suggest that biochar is a promising tool for enhancing sustainability and resilience in viticulture, addressing climate change challenges. The integration of advanced monitoring technologies facilitated precise data collection, enabling further scalability and application.