Review of vine water deficit. What levers for the vineyard in the short and medium term?
In the context of climate change, most wine-growing regions are experiencing periods of water deficit, or even water stress, as well as heatwaves.
The proven increase in average temperatures has led to a shift in the phenological stages of the vine.
Possible solutions: the toolbox
Table 1. Reduction in the water consumption of a vineyard and possible solutions.
Table 1 presents the goals for reducing the water consumption of a vineyard and the potential solutions in the short, medium and long term.
| Goals | Solutions put in place |
|---|---|
| Increase in the soil storage capacity | -Regeneration of microbial life in soils
-Input and increase of organic matter in soils -Irrigation |
| Reduction of evaporation losses | -Changes to tillage practices and cover crops |
| Reduction of the leaf area and transpiration losses | -Reduction of the total leaf area per vine (and alignment of the associated yields)
-Reduction in planting density -Shading of the vines (shade structures) -Choice of low training systems (Gobelet, Palmette) |
| Maintenance of production, reduction of transpiration losses | -Choice of drought-tolerant grape varieties and rootstocks considering potential wine styles
-Supplementary irrigation |
| Maintenance of production, Freshness of white and rosé wines | -Regeneration of soil life for better management of the soil water storage capacity
-Supplementary and reasoned irrigation of the vine (Figure 2) |
Check at IVES the Full publication: https://ives-technicalreviews.eu/article/view/4842
