Water status and physiological efficiency in cv. Cabernet-Sauvignon: response to different water regimes including the alternative of PRD on the row

Abstract

Irrigation management is a critical aspect in grapevine cultivation to regularize grape production and grape quality in areas of clear rainfall limitation, especially with climate change. The knowledge of hydric and physiological response of each variety in each growing area to the variation of water regime is necessary in order to get the highest productive and qualitative efficiency. Throughout the period 2012-2014, the water status and physiological vine response to 4 treatments of water regime was studied: rainfed (T0), traditional drip irrigation of 50% ETo (T2), PRD irrigation of 25% ETo (P1) and PRD irrigation of 50% ETo (P2) on the row, from pea size state until harvest. The trial was developed with vines of cv. Cabernet Sauvignon on 110R rootstock, planted in 2004 and vertically trellised as a bilateral Royat cordon. The vine distances were 2.2 m x 1.2 m. It was located in Valladolid (Spain). The results showed that the measurements of leaf water potential and gas interchange, at 9 and 12 hs, showed a value of the rainfed treatment significantly lower than the irrigated ones, whereas the treatment irrigated with lower dose, P1, showed values significantly lower than those irrigated with double dose. No differences were observed between traditional irrigation system, T2, and that of PRD type, P2. The effects observed should be taken into account in order to get the maximum advantage of water use according to the productive goals of the vineyard.