Terroir 2004 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Apports des mesures de résistivité électrique du sol dans les études sur le fonctionnement de la vigne et dans la spatialisation parcellaire

Apports des mesures de résistivité électrique du sol dans les études sur le fonctionnement de la vigne et dans la spatialisation parcellaire

Abstract

[English version below]

La mesure de la résistivité électrique des sols est une technique non destructive, spatialement intégrante, utilisée depuis peu en viticulture. L’utilisation d’appareils de mesures performant et de logiciels adaptés permet de traiter les données afin de pouvoir visualiser en deux ou trois dimensions les variations de textures ou d’humidité d’un sol.
La résistivimétrie électrique est testée depuis deux ans à l’Unité Vigne et Vin du Centre INRA d’Angers pour étudier l’alimentation hydrique de la vigne. Les techniques classiques qui permettent de mesurer quantitativement l’état hydrique du sol sont trop peu représentatives du volume de sol réellement prospecté par les racines. Les mesures de résistivité électrique autorisent en revanche une spatialisation précise des zones d’activités racinaires préférentielles, le volume de sol soumis au prélèvement des racines peut ainsi être mieux appréhendé. Cette technique permet une visualisation des zones de dessèchement préférentiel, et pour certains types de sols, elle permet également de quantifier l’eau disponible. Il est également possible de visualiser en temps réel les effets d’une pluie ou d’une sécheresse au travers de la sollicitation des racines ainsi que d’appréhender les effets de l’enherbement ou de différents porte-greffes sur l’alimentation hydrique de la vigne.
La résistivimétrie électrique peut également être appliquée en viticulture de précision puisqu’elle permet d’affiner la cartographie pédologique d’une parcelle. Le choix de l’emplacement de fosses pédologiques ou la localisation des différents porte-greffes pour la plantation peuvent être des applications directes de cette cartographie géophysique.
L’utilisation des techniques de géophysiques telles que la résistivimétrie électrique du sol peut donc aussi bien servir la recherche que devenir un outil de spatialisation pour la viticulture de précision, d’autant plus que les avancées technologiques récentes dans ce domaine permettent désormais une utilisation plus aisée des différents appareils de mesure.

The measurement of soil electric resistivity, as a non destructive, spatially integrative technique, has recently been introduced into viticulture. The use of performing equipment and adapted software allows for rapid data processing and gives the possibility to visualise the variations of soil texture or humidity in two or three dimensions.
Soil electric resistivity has been tested for the last two years at the Experimental Unit on Grapevine and Vine, INRA, Angers, France, to study the water supply to the vine in different “terroir” conditions. The classical techniques that allow to quantify the soil water status do not give access to the volume of soil explored by the root system. On the contrary, measurements of soil electric resistivity permit to visualise precisely the zones of preferential grapevine root activity. In some types of soil, available water may even be quantified. It is also possible to monitor in real time the effects of rain or drought through root solicitation, as well as the effects of soil management (inter-row grassing) or different rootstocks on the water supply to the vine.
When applied to precision viticulture, electric resistivity can be used to refine the geo-pedological cartography of a given plot. The choice of sites for pedological studies or the assistance for selection of rootstocks are direct applications of this cartography.
The use of geophysical techniques such as soil electric resistivity constitutes a tool for the use of both scientists and adepts of precision viticulture. Recent technological developments are now facilitating the use of these equipments.

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

E. Goulet (1) et G. Barbeau (2)

(1) Cellule « Terroirs Viticoles », Confédération des Vignerons du Val de Loire, 42 rue Georges Morel, 49071 Beaucouzé Cedex
(2) Unité Vigne et Vin, INRA, 42 rue Georges Morel, 49071 Beaucouzé Cedex

Contact the author

Keywords

Vigne, sol, résistivité électrique, alimentation hydrique, spatialisation 
grapevine, soil, electric resistivity, water supply, spatial land distribution 

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Assessment of the impact of actions in the vineyard and its surrounding environment on biodiversity in Rioja Alavesa (Spain)

Traditional viticulture areas have experienced in the last decades an intensification of field practices, linked to an increased use of fertilisers and phytosanitary products, and to a more intensive mechanization and uniformization of the landscape. This change in management has sometimes led to higher rates of soil erosion andloss of soil structure, fertility decline, groundwater contamination, and to an increased pressure of pests and diseases. Additionally, intensification usually leads to a simplification of landscapes, of particular concern in prestigious wine grape regions where the economical revenue encourages the conversion of land use from natural habitats to high value wine grape production. To revert this trend, it is necessary that growers implement actions that promote biodiversity in their vineyards. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the implementation of cover crops, vegetational corridors, dry stone walls and vineyard biodiversity hotspots estimated through the study of arthropods. The work has been carried out in four vineyards in Rioja Alavesa belonging to Ostatu winery, where these infrastructures were implemented in 2020. The presence and diversity of arthropods was studied by capturing them at different times in the season and at different distances from the infrastructure using pit-fall traps in the soil and yellow, white and blue chromatic traps at the canopy level. This is a preliminary study in which all adult insects were sorted to the taxonomic level of order and Coleoptera were classified to morphospecies. The results obtained show that there is a relationship between the basic characteristics of the vineyard and the arthropods captured, with a positive effect, although also dependent on the vineyard, of the presence of infrastructure.

The combined effects of climate, soils, and deficit irrigation on yield and quality of Touriga Nacional under high atmospheric demand in the Douro Region

Global warming is one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats in several viticultural regions. In the Douro Valley, changes are expected in the coming years, namely an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation. These changes are likely to have consequences for the production and quality of wine.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of different soil characteristics combined with several deficit irrigation strategies, managed throughout ETc references and predawn leaf water potentials thresholds, on physiology, yield, and qualitative attributes on the Touriga Nacional variety under years of mild to severe water and heat stress.
The studies were conducted over seven years (2015 to 2021) in two plots of a commercial vineyard located at Quinta do Ataíde (Symington Family Estates) planted in 2011 and 2014 at 170 meters elevation, growing under three water regimes: non-irrigated (NI) and two deficit irrigation strategies (30% and 60% ETc) assessed weekly by Ψpd. The site has an annual rainfall below 500 mm, with high atmospheric demand. Climate data was collected from a weather station, located on site. Berry ripening was followed weekly for fruit analysis. At harvest, yield, vigour and pruning weight per vine were determined from 90 vines by treatment. Each season at veraison the NDVI Index was accessed by a drone. The soils physic-chemistry in the experimental blocs were analysed and grouped by SWHC. Delta C-13 analyses were also performed per treatment in two years.Irrigation had a positive effect on yield per vine, mostly due to an increase in berry and cluster weight, and fertility index through the years. A significant increase in sugar content, colour and phenols was observed with deficit irrigation in some years, but vine vigour related to soil characteristics had by far the greatest impact on quality.

Traditional agroforestry vineyards, sources of inspiration for the agroecological transition of viticulture

A unique “terroir” can be found in southern Bolivia, which combines the specific features of climate, topography and altitude of high valleys, with the management of grapevines staked on trees. It is one of the rare remnants of agroforestry viticulture. A survey was carried out among 29 grapegrowers in three valleys, to characterize the structure and management of these vineyards, and identify the services they expect from trees. Farms were small (2.2 ha on average) and 85% of vineyards were less than 1 ha. Viticulture was associated with vegetable, fruit and fodder production, sometimes in the same fields. Molle trees were found in all plots, together with one or two other native tree species. Traditional grapevine varieties such as Negra Criolla, Moscatel de Alejandría and Vicchoqueña were grown with a large range of densities from 1550 to 9500 vines ha-1. From 18 to 30% of them were staked on trees, with 1.2 to 4.9 vines per tree. The management of these vineyards (irrigation, fertilization and grapevine protection) was described, the most particular technical operation being the coordinated pruning of trees and grapevines. Three types of management could be identified in the three valleys. Grapegrowers had a clear idea of the ecosystem services they expected from trees in their vineyards. The main one was protection against climate hazards (hail, frost, flood). Then they expected benefits in terms of pest and disease control, improvement of soil fertility and resulting yield. At last, some producers claimed that tree-staking was quicker and cheaper than conventional trellising. It can be hypothesized then that agroforestry is a promising technique for the agroecological transition of viticulture. Its contribution to the “terroir” of the high valleys of southern Bolivia and its link with the specificities of the wines and spirits produced there remain to be explored.

Modelling vine water stress during a critical period and potential yield reduction rate in European wine regions: a retrospective analysis

Most European vineyards are managed under rainfed conditions, where seasonal water deficit has become increasingly important. The flowering-veraison phenophase represents an important period for vine response to water stress, which is seldomly thoroughly evaluated. Therefore, we aim to quantify the flowering-veraison water stress levels using Crop Water Stress Indicator (CWSI) over 1986–2015 for important European wine regions, and to assess the respective potential Yield Lose Rate (YLR). Additionally, we also investigate whether an advanced flowering-veraison phase may help alleviating the water stress with improved yield. A process-based grapevine model STICS is employed, which has been extensively calibrated for flowering and veraison stages using observed data at 38 locations with 10 different grapevine varieties. Subsequently, the model is being implemented at the regional level, considering site-specific calibration results and gridded climate and soil datasets. The findings suggest wine regions with stronger flowering-veraison CWSI tend to have higher potential YLR. However, contrasting patterns are found between wine regions in France-Germany-Luxembourg and Italy-Portugal-Spain. The former tends to have slight-to-moderate drought conditions (CWSI<0.5) and a negligible-to-moderate YLR (<30%), whereas the latter possesses severe-to-extreme CWSI (>0.5) and substantial YLR (>40%). Wine regions prone to a high drought risk (CWSI>0.75) are also identified, which are concentrated in southern Mediterranean Europe. An advanced flowering-veraison phase may have benefited from cooler temperatures and a higher fraction of spring precipitation in wine regions of Italy-Portugal-Spain, resulting in alleviated CWSI and moderate reductions of YLR. For those of France-Germany-Luxembourg, this can have reduced flowering-veraison precipitation, but prevalent alleviations of YLR are also found, possibly because of shifted phase towards a cooler growing season with reduced evaporative demands. Overall, such a retrospective analysis might provide new insights towards better management of seasonal water deficit for conventionally vulnerable Mediterranean wine regions, but also for relatively cooler and wetter Central European regions.

Grapevine yield-gap: identification of environmental limitations by soil and climate zoning in Languedoc-Roussillon region (south of France)

Grapevine yield has been historically overlooked, assuming a strong trade-off between grape yield and wine quality. At present, menaced by climate change, many vineyards in Southern France are far from the quality label threshold, becoming grapevine yield-gaps a major subject of concern. Although yield-gaps are well studied in arable crops, we know very little about grapevine yield-gaps. In the present study, we analysed the environmental component of grapevine yield-gaps linked to climate and soil resources in the Languedoc Roussillon. We used SAFRAN data and IGP Pays d’Oc wine yields from 2010 to 2018. We selected climate and soil indicators proving to have a significant effect on average wine yield-gaps at the municipality scale. The most significant factors of grapevine yield were the Soil Available Water Capacity; followed by the Huglin Index and the Climatic Dryness Index. The Days of Frost; the Soil pH; and the Very Hot Days were also significant. Then, we clustered geographical zones presenting similar indicators, facilitating the identification of resources yield-gaps. We discussed the number of zones with the experts of IGP Pays d’Oc label, obtaining 7 zones with similar limitations for grapevine yield. Finally, we analysed the main resources causing yield-gaps and the grapevine varieties planted on each zone. Mapping grapevine resource yield-gaps are the first stage for understanding grapevine yield-gaps at the regional scale.