Abstract
The purpose of this study was a comparison of soil parameters among superficial and sub-superficial horizons of three representative type of soils in Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil, aiming Viticulture in general, but Precision Viticulture (PV) management as specific focus. Basic aspects of Viticulture or PV are still discussed, by instance, sampling procedures, influence of pedology on quality of wine or methods for defining the management zones. Samples were collected according to each horizon, superficial (0-20 cm in depth) or sub-superficial (>40 cm in depth), that is, A (all soils), A2 (Neossolo), Bi (Cambissolo), or Bt (Argissolo). Micro-vinification was performed for grapes derived from five classes of soil. The pedological parameters analyzed were granulometric fractions, chemical parameters and degree of flocculation. Data were organized according to a Geographic Information System (GIS) by ten classes of soil. Basic statistical analysis, line graphs, XY plots and factor analysis were used to interpret the physicochemical variables related to horizons, soil and wine. Relative Accumulation Indexes were evaluated for horizons of soil, classes of soil and wine. Data organized by horizon and type of soil showed great dispersion, so outliers were discarded and data organized by class of soil. Correlation of data related to soil horizons, A against A2/B, was evident for macronutrients. Micro-vinification altered content of K and P in wine. Relative Accumulation Indexes of soil horizons correlated to declivity, when declivity lesser than 20% occurred. Fe and Zn showed correlation among sub-superficial horizon and wine for some classes of soil.
Highlights
By extension precision viticulture are related to innovations in pedology since 90s (MacBratney et al, 2003), such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial variability, or localization systems oriented by satellite, what can be applied to specific agricultural sectors such as the production of grapes, optimization of vine performance, quality of the wine or environmental impacts (Proffitt et al, 2006)
Statistics of groups organized by first order of Brazilian System of Soil Classification (BSSC) and horizon showed significant data variability especially when the comparison A horizon against sub-superficial horizon was made (Table 2)
Al and P contrasts suggested the influence of managing operations as pH correction and fertilization
Summary
The influence of the soils on the quality of grapes and wines has been worry humanity since remote times. This is not associated to the taste of “minerality” in wine, what would be derived from the rock and soil occurring in the vineyard, hypotheses refuted by recent research (Maltman, 2013), but to the concept of “terroir”. Haynes (1999) defines terroir as all the factors above and below the ground that affect the grape during growth that is meteorological, physiographical, pedological, geological and viticultural factors; excluding biological phenomena as pests, diseases, herbicides, mutations, etc. The concept and role of terroir may be well known but the underlying science is only beginning to understand
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