Optimizing precision irrigation of a vineyard to improve water use efficiency and profitability by using a decision-oriented vine water consumption model

J Bellvert,J Marsal,M Mata,X Vallverdú,C Paris

doi:10.1007/s11119-020-09718-2

J Bellvert, J Marsal + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-020-09718-2

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Abstract

While the agronomic and economic benefits of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies have long been established in red wine grape varieties, spatial variability in water requirements across a vineyard limits their practical application. This study aims to evaluate the performance of an integrated methodology—based on a vine water consumption model and remote sensing data—to optimize the precision irrigation (PI) of a 100-ha commercial vineyard during two consecutive growing seasons. In addition, a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted of the tested strategy. Using an NDVI generated map, a vineyard with 52 irrigation sectors and the varieties Tempranillo, Cabernet and Syrah was classified in three categories (Low, Medium and High). The proposed methodology allowed viticulturists to adopt a precise RDI strategy, and, despite differences in water requirement between irrigation sectors, pre-defined stem water potential thresholds were not exceeded. In both years, the difference between maximum and minimum water applied in the different irrigation sectors varied by as much as 25.6%. Annual transpiration simulations showed ranges of 240.1–340.8 mm for 2016 and 298.6–366.9 mm for 2017. According to the CBA, total savings of 7090.00 € (2016) and 9960.00 € (2017) were obtained in the 100-ha vineyard with the PI strategy compared to not PI. After factoring in PI technology and labor costs of 5090 €, the net benefit was 20.0 € ha−1 in 2016 and 48.7 € ha−1 in 2017. The water consumption model adopted here to optimize PI is shown to enhance vineyard profitability, water use efficiency and yield.

Highlights

In viticulture, maximum incomes are not always achieved with maximum yield but by maintaining a certain balance between yield and berry composition
This study demonstrates the technical and economic feasibility of developing a precision irrigation management strategy for a 100-ha organic vineyard using the technological procedure of a decision-oriented vine water consumption model and remote sensing information
Despite the heterogeneity in vine water consumption between the different irrigation sectors of the vineyard, scheduling irrigation in a differential manner according to the prescriptions generated by the vine water consumption model resulted in vines with similar vine water status in all the irrigation sectors and throughout the growing season

Summary

Introduction

Maximum incomes are not always achieved with maximum yield but by maintaining a certain balance between yield and berry composition. The precise adoption of RDI requires careful selection of the moment, intensity and duration of the water deficit application (Conesa et al 2018) This can only be properly achieved with a precise knowledge of the seasonal sensitivity of grapevine to water stress and using physiological plant-based tools such as the leaf/stem water potential as indicators of water stress (Girona et al 2006, 2009). Several studies have proposed different methodologies to re-design the irrigation sectors based on yield map time-series, soil properties or spectral vegetation indices (Bellvert et al 2012; Martínez-Casasnovas et al 2009); and (iii) to obtain appropriate physiological knowledge about the optimal water stress thresholds of each variety and the optimal phenological moment to achieve the best balance between yield and berry composition

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