Novel and low-cost approach to estimate light radiation inside a canopy
Abstract
The impact of different canopy systems and viticultural management practices on fruit exposure have been widely investigated, and the potential impact of microclimate on fruit composition is well recognised. However, a precise and low-cost characterisation of the light conditions within the grapevine canopy is still lacking. The objective of the present study was to test the application of a commercial azo-dye based film (Opto-Leaf films; Taisei-Environmental and Landscape Group, Tokyo, Japan) for characterizing the light conditions within the canopy. These dyes fade with a near linear relationship to cumulative light exposure, and can be calibrated against standard meteorological solar radiation sensors. Three different film types were precisely characterized in the open to establish calibrations, and to assess their response to UV-light, temperature and reflected radiation prior to the insertion into the canopy. The film material demonstrated repeatable and accurate readings under both conditions. Hence, such commercial dye-based film material can be considered as a novel and reliable approach to integrate the amount of light received evaluating bunch exposure within the vine.
Issue: GiESCO 2017
Type: Extended abstract
Format: Oral
Authors
¹ Hochschule Geisenheim University, Department of General & Organic Viticulture, Von-Lade-Str. 1, 65366 Geisenheim, Germany
² Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Italy
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Keywords
microclimate, canopy, radiation, light sensitive films