New technologies to characterize spatial variability in viticulture

Measurements of parameters spatialy positionned, with on line sensors mounted on classical machinery or airborne imagery is no more a problem in viticulture. In a short time, high resolution data dedicated to the assessment of the vine characteristics, the soil, the harvest, etc. will become a reality. This information sources will allow the wine grower to have a spatial accurate knowledge of the vineyard and its variability. Such an accuracy in monitoring the production system was never achieved until now. This paper makes a brief overview of the tools and methods already released or under development to assess the vineyard variability of the main parameters. This work makes also an overview of the main references in vineyard variability. It presents the main results observed on yield, sugar, TTA, etc. within field variability. For each of these parameters clues on magnitude of variation and coefficient of variation observed at a within field scale are given. Assessing the within field variability can lead the wine grower to take advantage of this variability by adopting site specific management practices. In that case, information of the spatial structure of the variation is of importance since it gives an idea of how a site specific management is opportune on each field. This work will present the main results obtained in spatial structure assessment in viticulture (focusing on yield). Finally, one of the keypoint in viticulture is the assessment of the plant water restriction and its variability whether over the time or over the space. This work presents main experimental results dedicated to the assessment of the within field variability of the plant water status and its link with harvest quality.