Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Precision viticulture: using on-board sensors to map vine variability and characterize vine trajectories

Precision viticulture: using on-board sensors to map vine variability and characterize vine trajectories

Abstract

Precision viticulture consists in using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to implement more specific and better targeted technical vine practices. With proxy-detection, precision viticulture mobilizes on-board sensors, computers, and GNSS positioning. Three sensors were embedded on a tractor and tested on a plot with three champagne grape varieties. This plot is located at the Plumecoq experimental vineyard (CIVC, Champagne, France). The first sensor is a pruning wood sensor (Physiocap) designed and developed by CIVC. Physiocap is used during dormancy season to characterize vine architecture by measuring shoot vigor, shoot number and biomass. The other two are growing season sensors. GreenSeeker Trimble provides a vegetative vine index by measuring foliage porosity. Multiplex Force-A characterizes vine metabolism through chlorophyll, anthocyanin, flavonol, and nitrogen leaf content. Data from these sensors define the physiological state of the vine at the time of measure. The sensors can also map spatial vine variability within a plot or between plots. To understand the vineyard as a whole, the combination of biomass indexes and leaf contents is interesting. In this case, there was some good correlation between the indexes and yield and must compounds such as nitrogen, acidity or sugar. By collecting sensor data at several key stages, it is possible to plot vine trajectories. Vine trajectory describes the physiological developments made by the vineyard according to its initial potential. It depends on annual climatic conditions and physical environment. Vine trajectories are useful to understand the effect of year and terroir.

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Sébastien DEBUISSON, Manon MORLET, Claire GERMAIN, Olivier GARCIA, Laurent PANIGAÏ, Dominique MONCOMBLE

Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC)

Contact the author

Keywords

Precision viticulture, vine trajectory, multiplex, NDVI, Pruning wood sensor

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Whole bunch fermentation: adding complexity, or just making ‘green’ wine?

Certain grape varieties contain negligible levels of isobutyl methoxypyrazine (IBMP) in grapes. However, it has long been known that grape stems

Mapping climate and bioclimatic indices at high-resolution in vineyard regions

Many of the world’s vineyard regions are located in regions of complex terrain, with the result there is significant local climate variation.

Oligosaccharides in red wines: could their structure and composition be influenced by the grape-growing

Oligosaccharides have only recently been characterized in wine, and the information on composition and content is still limited. In wine, these molecules are mainly natural byproducts of the degradation of grape berry cell wall polysaccharides. Wine oligosaccharides present several physicochemical properties, being one relevant factor linked to the astringency perception of wines (1,2). A terroir can be defined as a grouping of homogeneous environmental units based on the typicality of the products obtained. This notion is particularly associated with wine, being the climate and the soil two of the major elements of terroir concept.

Composition and molar mass distribution of different must and wine colloids

A major problem for winemakers is the formation of proteinaceous haze after bottling. Although the exact mechanisms remain unclear, this haze is formed by unfolding and agglomeration of grape proteins, being additionally influenced by numerous further factors.

Interaction among grapevine cultivars (Sangiovese, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot) and site of cultivation in Bolgheri (Tuscany)

Different “landscape unit” have been identified in Bolgheri area (a viticultural appellation in the Tirrenian coast of Tuscany) by the aid of pedological, landscape and agronomic observations in the 1992-1993 period. In all cultivar (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) x landscape unit combinations, experimental plots were chosen in homogeneous vineyards, single cordon trained (about 3300-4500 vines/hectare). Grape maturation was studied by weekly samples of berries from veraison to vintage in the 1992-1995 period. At harvest yield and must composition traits were measured and, from the most représentative plots, sixty kilograms of grapes were harvested each year and vinified according to a standardised scheme. Wines were evaluated by standard chemical and sensory analyses.