Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2020 9 History and innovation of terroir 9 Prospects of thermal imaging as a non-invasive tool to assess water status for irrigation scheduling in commercial vineyards

Prospects of thermal imaging as a non-invasive tool to assess water status for irrigation scheduling in commercial vineyards

Abstract

Aim: Irrigated viticulture is expanding worldwide mainly as a short-term adaptation strategy to climate change. Plant-based methods are increasingly being used for irrigation scheduling in commercial vineyards. Canopy temperature (TC) has long been recognized as an indicator of plant water status. TC, but also the thermal stress indices, e.g. crop water stress index (CWSI) and stomatal conductance index (IG) have been used to support and manage irrigation in several crops including grapevine. The goal of this work was to review thermal imaging as non-invasive tool to assess water status in commercial vineyards in Rioja (Spain) and in the wine regions of Douro and Alentejo (Portugal). 

Methods and Results: Thermal cameras were used as ground based portable sensors to manually assess water status. Significant correlations between TC and/or thermal indices and stomatal conductance or stem water potential (Ψstem) were observed in the vineyards of these top wine regions. Recently, a thermal camera was also mounted in an all-terrain-vehicle for the on-the-go acquisition of thermal images. TC, CWSI and IG were significantly correlated to Ψstem at both canopy sides. Water status of a commercial Tempranillo vineyard was also evaluated using on-the-go thermal imagery retrieved from a moving quad at 5 km/h in Rioja. Moreover, an infrared radiometer was installed in an autonomous terrestrial robot to assess and map water status of commercial Touriga Nacional vineyard in the Douro Valley. 

Conclusions: 

Several trials carried out in Spain and Portugal showed the effectiveness of thermal imaging to monitor water status in commercial vineyards.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results are promising and show the potential of thermal imaging as a non-invasive technology in precision viticulture to evaluate vineyard water status, helping grape growers to optimize irrigation management.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: March 23, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

Javier Tardaguila1*, Maria P. Diago1, Juan Fernández-Novales1, Inés Hernández1, Salvador Gutierrez2, Fernando Alves3, Joana Valente3, Ricardo Egipto4, Gonçalo Victorino5, J. Miguel Costa5, Carlos M. Lopes5

1Televitis Research Group. University of La Rioja. 26006 Logroño, Spain
2Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, Spain
3 Symington Family Estates, Travessa Barão de Forrester 86, 4431-901 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
 4INIAV, I.P. Pólo de Dois Portos, Quinta da Almoínha. 2565-191, Dois Portos, Portugal
5LEAF, Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de Lisboa. 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Contact the author

Keywords

Sensing technologies, non-invasive sensor, CWSI, IG, precision irrigation

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

The current state and prospects for the development of viticulture and winemaking in Greece

Viticulture in Greece is the oldest, but in recent years there has been a reduction of areas intended for the production of wine products. The article contains data on viticulture in Greece. Over time, the land of Greek vineyards is fluctuating. There is a trend towards a decrease in areas in connection with the quota of products from the EU.

Read More

Can soil water content be used as a predictor of predawn leaf water potential for deficit irrigation scheduling? A case study at Alentejo wine region

Water and heat stress impose new challenges to irrigation management in the Mediterranean areas. This reality has a major impact on the vineyard ecosystem, particularly on the scarce water resources of the Alentejo region (South Portugal). To mitigate this problem, irrigation management should focus on optimizing yield and fruit quality per volume of water applied. This work aims to discuss the use of predawn leaf water potential and soil water status relationships as a decision tool for irrigation management taking as basis data from a field trial where two deficit irrigation strategies were compared.

Read More

Influence of dipping pretreatments in drying of ‘Pedro Ximenez’ grapes in chamber at controlled temperature

The influence of dipping pretreatments on drying of ‘Pedro Ximenez’ grapes, destined to the elaboration of sweet wines, in chamber at controlled temperature, has been studied. Changes in color and phenolic composition of raisins produced were observed during the process of raisining.

Read More

Impact of grape maturity on esters content and sensory characters in wines fermented with yeast strains of different genetic backgrounds

Grapes composition is a factor well known to affect wines composition and sensory expression. The goal of this study was to evaluate how grapes composition modifications linked to maturity level could affect wines aromatic expression and esters composition.

Read More

Effect of irrigation regime on carbon isotope ratio (δ13c) in different grapevines

In Castilla-La Mancha as other winegrowing regions, vineyards suffer the effects of the global climate warming. Severe spring and summer droughts are increasingly frequent, which concur with the phenological stages most susceptible to water and temperature stress. Under these conditions, irrigation use is required in order to ensure the vineyard growing sustainability. However water resources are increasingly limited, for this reason is required to choose cultivars displaying high water use efficiency.

Read More