Terroir 2008 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Narrow terraces and alternative training systems for steep sloop viticulture – Douro region

Narrow terraces and alternative training systems for steep sloop viticulture – Douro region

Abstract

In Douro Region, vineyards are usually planted on hillsides with steep sloops. The models currently used for planting those vineyards are, depending on the initial slope of the hillside, vertical planting or terraces. Vertical planting is well adapted when the slope of the hillside is lower than 35-40% and terraces, supported by earthen embankment and one or two rows of vines are the solution for slopes higher than 35 – 40%. Terraces with two planting rows, 3.6 to 4.0m-wide were planted during the 1980s in more than 2500 ha. This solution proved to have disadvantages as to compel the maintenance of the embankment with chemicals for weeds control, high embankment height and consequent problems of instability and erosion.
Due to that in this work it is presented one correct way of constructing narrow terraces 2.5 m wide, using laser systems, and alternatives in control of weeds both in platform and in slope. Because narrow terraces have the disadvantage of a low planting density and yield potential, an experiment was performed with the variety “Touriga Franca”, representative of about 20% of vines in the region, grafted in 110R, two training systems and two planting row distances.
The results of the trial, performed in 2006 and 2007, showed that yield in the double cordon system (LYS 2/3) was respectively 62% and 52% higher than in the traditional vertical shoot positioning (VSP) without negative quality effect on quality of the grapes. Concerning planting row distance, 0.80m achieved a higher yield and better quality than planting at 1.20m.
Narrow terraces, constructed with rigor, proved to be an excellent alternative in planting hillside vineyards, 0.80m a better planting distance than 1.20m, both in terms of yield and on quality and double cordon LYS 2/3 a system suitable to improve yield, without quality detriment, as verified in these two years trials.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

Jorge QUEIROZ (1); Mário CUNHA (1); António MAGALHÃES (2); David GUIMARAENS (2); Mário SOUSA (3) and Rogério CASTRO (4)

(1) Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto – Secção Autónoma de Engenharia das Ciências Agrárias, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão
(2) The Fladgate Partnership Vinhos, S. A., R. Barão de Forrester, 404, 4400 V.N. Gaia
(3) Direcção Regional de Agricultura Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Centro de Estudos Vitivinícolas do Douro – Quinta do Paço, 5050-071 Peso da Régua
(4) Instituto Superior de Agronomia – Universidade Técnica de Lisboa -Tapada da Ajuda, 1399 Lisboa Codex

Contact the author

Keywords

Douro, narrow terraces, training system, steep slope viticulture (SSV)

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

Soil management with cover crops in irrigated vineyards: effects in vine microclimate (cv. Malbec) grown in a terroir of Agrelo (Luján de Cuyo)

L’objectif de cette recherche a été de déterminer les effets de l’enherbement dans le microclimat de la vigne. On a comparé cinq couvertures de cycle végétatif différent en ce qui concerne l’entretien du sol sans culture par application d’herbicides. L’étude a été developpée dans un vignoble cv. Malbec conduit en haute espalier, situé en a terroir á Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentine. On a déterminé des paramètres micro climatiques:

Grape phylloxera leaf-feeding populations in commercial vineyards – a new biotype ?

Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) ordinarily has great difficulty establishing leaf galls on the European Grapevine (VitisviniferaL.). Yet populations of leaf-feeding Phylloxera are increasingly being observed throughout commercial vineyards world-wide. Effective plant protection strategies including quarantine actions are currently missing to fight, grape phylloxera populations in affected vineyards and combat linked negative effects on vines and yield. Contrary to the otherwise mandatory continuous infestation pressure from externally established populations (e.g. from populations developed on rootstock foliage or other interspecific hybrids, these leaf-feeding populations seem to establish themselves annually.

Sensory differences of Pinot noir wines from willamette valley subregions

Wines from different regions or AVAs have been found to have sensory differences, as these areas are typically located quite far apart and have dramatically different climates, soils and other terroir factors.

Genome editing applications on grapevine cv. Aglianico for the knockout of susceptibility genes related to fungal diseases

Context and purpose of the study. Italy hosts diverse grapevine varieties crucial for viticultural biodiversity. Preserving this biodiversity is essential for maintaining a diversified genetic pool and addressing future challenges such as climate change and emerging plant diseases.

Combined abiotic-biotic plant stresses on the roots of grapevine

In the 19th century, devastating outbreaks of phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch), almost brought European viticulture to its knees. Phylloxera does not only take energy in form of sugars from the vine, but also affects the up- and down- regulations of genes, acts as a carbon sink and reprograms the physiology of the grapevines, including nutrient uptake and the defense system [1]. A key trait of rootstocks is the ability to perform well under high lime conditions as about 30 % of the land surface has calcareous soil. Iron deficiency not only causes the well-known problems of lime-induced chlorosis and stunted growth, but also affects the entire plant metabolism.