Abstract
Planting criteria of new vineyards should comply with rational and sustainable criteria, taking into account the potential mechanisability of existing viticultural areas. However, an established methodology for this assessment is still lacking. This study aimed at analysing the parameters which influence the vineyard mechanisability, with the objective to propose a new mechanisability index. The mechanisability index proposed was based on GIS-analysis of landscape and management parameters such as mean slope, shape of the vineyard block, length-width ratio, headland size, training system and row spacing. We identified a sample of 3686 vineyards in Italy. Based on the above-mentioned parameters, vineyards were categorised by their level of mechanisability (l.m.) into four classes. Moreover, we analysed the correlation between l.m. and economic indicators (area planted with vineyard and wine production). Results showed that the main factors limiting the mechanisability potential of some Italian regions are the elevated slopes, horizontal training systems and narrow vine spacings. The l.m. showed a moderate positive correlation with the size of vineyards and the volume and value of production. The methodology presented in this study may be easily applied to other viticultural areas around the world, serving as a management decision-making tool.
Highlights
Italian agriculture, like that of other Mediterranean regions in the European Union, is characterised by great diversity of its rural environments and the large land area covered by extensive uses [1,2].European landscapes experienced constant evolution to reflect changing demands, i.e., planting orchards and vineyards on former natural areas [1]
This study developed a new Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based multicriteria index to evaluate the potential mechanisability of viticultural areas in Italy
The index was applied to classify the mechanical accessibility of Italian regions, based on geographical and managerial parameters
Summary
Like that of other Mediterranean regions in the European Union, is characterised by great diversity of its rural environments and the large land area covered by extensive uses [1,2].European landscapes experienced constant evolution to reflect changing demands, i.e., planting orchards and vineyards on former natural areas [1]. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) represents one of the most important crops in the Mediterranean regions, with relevant economic value [3,4]. In this contest, Italy, with 696,512 ha of vineyards (ISTAT http://www.agri.istat.it, accessed on April 2020), has the fourth largest grape growing area in the world and is second to China in terms of grape production [5]. Further growth of the sector requires a reduction in production costs without penalizing product quality To reach this goal, the production process needs to become more competitive and sustainable, which is in part obtainable with wider use of mechanisation [6,7,8].
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