Abstract
This paper studies the vegetative, productive and qualitative behavior of the Tempranillo variety, vertically trellised trained, according to a placement of vines with three different distances (1.04, 1.40 and 1.80 meters) in the row and a common distance between rows (2.40 meters), in order to determine the most suitable vine distance for the growing conditions. The experimental test has been developed for the period 2007–2011 in the Appellation of Origin Cigales, in Valladolid (Spain). The reduction of vine distance has favored the vegetative growth, through the shoot weight, while the grape yield has been slightly higher in the intermediate vine distance, 1.40 m, through the cluster weight. Ravaz index showed some increase with the increasing of vine distance, derived from the decrease of pruning wood. In qualitative terms, the variation of the vine distance did not significantly modify the basic composition of the grape. Therefore, the choice of the vine distance involves the convenience to assess both potential effects in terms of production and economic objectives of the new plantations, in accordance with the characteristics of each growing situation.
Highlights
The definition of planting density should always be included among the fundamental aspects in planning a vineyard plantation due to the impact that vine density carries out for vineyard profitability all throughout the entire life of the crop
A similar trend to grape yield was observed in the cluster weight, so that the treatment 1.40 has shown a cluster weight somewhat greater than the 1.80, and the latter in turn slightly larger than the 1.04, with only an average increase of the greatest respect to the smallest of about 5%, with statistically significant differences found some years of the study (Table 4)
The Ravaz index has shown a tendency to increase with the distance between vines, due mainly to the decrease in the weight of pruning wood, having observed statistically significant differences between experimental treatments most years (Table 12)
Summary
The definition of planting density should always be included among the fundamental aspects in planning a vineyard plantation due to the impact that vine density carries out for vineyard profitability all throughout the entire life of the crop. It should be kept in mind that the producer tries to design the planting of vineyards, including the choice of vine density, in order to maximize his profitability. It is convenient to assess how planting density may be the most appropriate to maximize grape quality and optimize the performance of the vineyard depending on soil and climatic growing conditions [1], as this choice can be decisive for the chances of success for future vineyard since it is going to condition many technical aspects in the vineyard management. The planting density is a function of two parameters: the spacing between rows (street width) and the distance between vines within the row [2]. The choice of vine density should consider its two components, the distance between rows and the distance between vines in the row [7]
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