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Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality

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A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Viticulture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2024 | Viewed by 10141

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Miguel A. Olego

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Guest Editor

Research Institute of Vine and Wine, Universidad de León, Avenida de Portugal, 41, 24071 León, Spain
Interests: grape quality; pedology; soil fertility; soil acidity; remote sensing; terroir; viticulture

Dr. Roberto Lopez

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
Interests: sustainability; soil fertility; mathematical modelling; environment simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Fernando Visconti Reluy

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Guest Editor

Ecology and Global Change Department, Desertification Research Centre, Moncada, 46113 València, Spain
Interests: agricultural modelling; soil quality; soil fertility; soil health; soil salinity; nitrogen; soil organic carbon; sustainable agriculture

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability was originally defined as the ability of current generations to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. However, achieving this goal is not always straightforward. In the field of viticulture, the International Organization of Vine and Wine more accurately indicates that a sustainable grape and wine industry is a global strategy on the scale of the grape production and processing system that fosters the economic profitability of vitiviniculture structures and territories by producing quality products, while also considering the precise use of resources such as soil, water and fertilizers, minimizing risks to the environment, protecting product safety and consumer health and, furthermore, preserving heritage as well as the historical, cultural, ecological and aesthetic aspects of vineyards. Therefore, by adopting sustainable practices and strategies, modern vineyards are able to mitigate the impacts of pests, diseases, climate and soil constraints on berry yield and quality, in addition to providing environmental services. Considering that soil fertility, and therefore vine nutrition, is one of the main regulators of grape yield and quality, and of environmental quality in vine-growing regions, it should be precisely modulated according to the grape production strategy and objectives (grapes for wine, dried grapes or table grapes). Thus, the choice of sustainable soil management strategies is crucial for not only preserving environmental quality because of the several ecological functions healthy soils provide, but also because they determine vine nutrition. Therefore, these sustainable strategies safeguard the same foundations from which the viticultural systems obtain their production potential thus securing their long-standing durability.

Given the social responsibility agricultural research has in developing a sustainable orientation in the vine and wine businesses, the purpose of this Special Issue on “Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality”, is to contribute to the dissemination of new scientifically based knowledge and results about soil and fertility sustainable management practices in viticultural systems. This will provide practitioners and agriculturalists with valuable evaluations of the effects of these practices on vine nutrition, grape quality and the environment for the maximum benefit of viticulture and society.

Dr. Miguel A. Olego
Dr. Roberto Lopez
Dr. Fernando Visconti Reluy
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

agroecology
environment
grapevine
soil health
soil quality
regenerative
viticulture

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fishpond Water Potential on Vineyard Soil Health: An Exploratory Study of a Circular System

by Isaac Kwadwo Mpanga, Toyosi Ijato, Harrison Kwame Dapaah and Russell Tronstad

Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040390 - 11 Apr 2024

Viewed by 528

Abstract

Climate variabilities continue to hinder sustainable food production with an increasing need to use resources such as water and soil efficiently. The quest for these efficiencies in agriculture systems drives innovations among farmers. However, limited data on farm practices, such as irrigating with fishpond water and their effects on soil health, hinder their adoption as climate-smart innovations. In a nearly twenty-year-old vineyard with two distinct irrigation practices (irrigation with recycled fishpond water and irrigation with ditch water), this study was carried out as an exploratory study to investigate the influence of recycling fishpond water on soil health parameters and yield. Soil samples were taken from two different irrigation fields in summer and winter for lab analysis on soil health parameters (organic matter and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, microbial biomass, and microbial respiration). Averages over the two seasons of field measurements indicate that long-term irrigation using recycling fishpond water increased the measured soil health parameters (organic matter (13%), organic carbon (30%), nitrogen (17%), phosphorus (46%), microbial biomass (18%), and microbial respiration (56%)) in both summer and winter months when compared to fields receiving just ditchwater irrigation. Using water in a way that can improve soil health increases biodiversity and improves the efficiency of our limited water resources in semi-arid agricultural lands, and this strategy is a climate-smart tool that can help reduce water risks in dry agricultural regions such as Arizona. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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23 pages, 1333 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Differences in Soil Water Holding Capacity and Available Soil Water along Growing Cycle Can Explain Differences in Vigour, Yield, and Quality of Must and Wine in the DOCa Rioja

by José María Martínez-Vidaurre, Eva Pilar Pérez-Álvarez, Enrique García-Escudero, María Concepción Ramos and Fernando Peregrina

Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040320 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 677

Abstract

Soil water availability during the vine growth cycle can affect yield and grape quality. The objective was to evaluate the effect of soil water holding capacity (AWC) and available soil water (ASW) throughout the growing cycle on the nutritional status, vigor, production, and composition of grapes and wine. The study was conducted in the municipality of Uruñuela in the DOCa Rioja (Spain). The soils of four rainfed vineyard plots were characterized to determine AWC and its impacts on vine, grape, and wine composition. The N, P, and K foliar content, vigor, grape yield, berry weight, and composition of must and wine were analyzed in those vineyard plots during the period 2010–2014. The ASW was simulated in each plot and each year analyzed, considering the soil properties and the weather conditions, after model calibration in one plot in which soil water content was registered. The results showed that AWC influenced ASW along the growing cycle, so vines suffered from water stress in some periods of the vegetative cycle. Plots with higher AWC had higher ASW from fruit set to ripening and lower water stress during this period, which explains the higher N, P, and K foliar content, vigor and grape yield, and lower polyphenol and anthocyanin content in grapes and wines. The period where water availability had the most influence on the quality of the grapes was from veraison to ripening, during which ASW increased berry weight and acidity and decreased anthocyanins and polyphenolic compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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15 pages, 2674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fine-Tuning Grape Phytochemistry: Examining the Distinct Influence of Oak Ash and Potassium Carbonate Pre-Treatments on Essential Components

by Ozkan Kaya, Hava Delavar, Fadime Ates, Turhan Yilmaz, Muge Sahin and Nurhan Keskin

Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010095 - 19 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 904

Abstract

Understanding the impact of pre-treatment methods on the phytochemical composition of grapes is essential for optimizing grape quality and producing raisins with desirable characteristics. Therefore, this study meticulously analyzed the impact of two distinct pre-treatment methods, oak ash and potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), on the composition of essential phytochemical components in grapes. This research encompassed phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytoalexins. This study investigates the impact of pre-treatment methods, oak ash and K₂CO₃, on the phytochemical composition of grapes. Significant differences were observed in anthocyanins, flavonoids, phytoalexins, and phenolic acids between the treatments. Oak ash exhibited advantages in preserving specific compounds, including higher levels of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, catechins, resveratrol, pterostilbene, and viniferin, compared to K₂CO₃. Notably, the delphinidin-3-O-glycoside content was significantly higher in the oak ash treatment. An analysis of phenolic compounds revealed distinctions in hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetaldehyde. Additionally, gallic acid, vanillic acid, trans-caffeic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid, and (-)-epicatechin were significantly more prevalent in the K₂CO₃ treatment, while ferulic acid and quercetin were more prevalent in the oak ash treatment. These findings underscore the pivotal role of pre-treatment methods in shaping the phytochemical content of grapes, thus holding critical implications for grape-derived products’ quality and potential health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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16 pages, 4529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multivariate Analysis and Optimization of the Relationship between Soil Nutrients and Berry Quality of Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Franc Vineyards in the Eastern Foothills of the Helan Mountains, China

by Yashan Li, Jinnan Xiao, Yinfang Yan, Weiqiang Liu, Ping Cui, Chengdong Xu, Lijun Nan and Xu Liu

Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010061 - 7 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 800

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between soil nutrients and berry quality for the wine grape Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Franc in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, and subsequently to optimize soil nutrient conditions for optimal berry quality, thus providing guidance for vineyard soil management. Based on the basic data on soil nutrients and berry quality indicators, a partial least squares regression method was used to screen for major soil nutrient factors affecting the grape quality index. Then, the selected soil nutrient factors were taken as independent variables and the corresponding grape quality indicators were taken as dependent variables and a multilinear regression equation was formulated by the method of multivariate linear regression. Finally, the optimal solution for fruit quality and soil nutrients was solved using linear programming equations. The results showed that there was a lack of total nitrogen, organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the soil nutrients, and an alkaline soil. There is a significant positive correlation between some soil nutrient indices, and there is also a multivariate linearity problem. Among all berry quality indices, titratable acid, tannin, and anthocyanin were negatively correlated with eleven and ten soil indices, respectively, while other berry quality indices were positively correlated with most soil nutrient indices. The optimal parameters for grape quality were determined using the method of linear programming equations, and the corresponding soil nutrient indicators content were defined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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18 pages, 5670 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Grape Yield Prediction Models: Approaching Different Machine Learning Algorithms

by Caio Bustani Andrade, Jean Michel Moura-Bueno, Jucinei José Comin and Gustavo Brunetto

Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121294 - 30 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1193

Abstract

Efficient marketing of winegrapes involves negotiating with potential buyers long before the harvest, when little is known about the expected vintage. Grapevine physiology is affected by weather conditions as well as by soil properties and such information can be applied to build yield prediction models. In this study, Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Cubist (CUB) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms were used to predict yield from imputed weather station data and soil sample analysis reports. Models using only soil variables had the worst general results (R² = 0.15, RMSE = 4.16 Mg ha⁻¹, MAE = 3.20 Mg ha⁻¹), while the use of only weather variables yielded the best performance (R² = 0.52, RMSE = 2.99 Mg ha⁻¹, MAE = 2.43 Mg ha⁻¹). Models built with CUB and RF algorithms showed signs of overfitting, yet RF models achieved the best average results (R² = 0.58, RMSE = 2.85 Mg ha⁻¹, MAE = 2.24 Mg ha⁻¹) using only weather variables as predictors. Weather data imputation affected RF and CUB models more intensely while PLSR remained fairly insensitive. Plant age, yield level group, vineyard plot, May temperatures, soil pH and exchangeable concentrations of Zn, Cu, K and Mn were identified as important predictors. This exploratory work offers insights for future research on grape yield predictive modeling and grouping strategies to obtain more assertive results, thus contributing to a more efficient grapevine production chain in southern Brazil and worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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16 pages, 1420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Abandonment as a Trigger for Changes in Zn Fractionation in Afforested Former Vineyard Acidic Soils

by Paula Pérez-Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Nóvoa-Muñoz, Manuel Arias-Estévez and David Fernández-Calviño

Horticulturae 2023, 9(10), 1121; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9101121 - 10 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 806

Abstract

Zinc is an essential element for plant nutrition, but it may cause toxicity depending on its bioavailability and potential transformation in soil. In vineyard soils, high concentrations of Zn are usually found, mainly due to agricultural practices. However, a great abandonment of vineyards has recently occurred, leading to changes in the total and bioavailable Zn concentrations, as well as Zn fractionation. We analyzed Zn concentrations (total, Zn_T, and bioavailable, Zn_ED) and fractionation in the soil of three paired sites (PM, PT, and AR) up to depths of 50 cm in active and adjacent abandoned vineyards that were already transformed into forests. The Zn_T averaged at 210 mg kg⁻¹ among all studied vineyards. The results showed changes in the vertical pattern Zn_T concentrations after vineyard abandonment at the PM and PT sites, while at the AR site, no great variation occurred. The Zn_ED (mean values = 7 mg kg⁻¹) decreased after abandonment at PM and AR in the uppermost surface layers, while it increased in the top 10 cm at the PT site, reaching up to 60 mg kg⁻¹. Regarding Zn fractionation in active vineyards, the residual fraction (Zn_R) was the most abundant, followed by Zn bound to crystalline Fe and Al oxy-hydroxides (Zn_C) and Zn bound to soil organic matter (Zn_OM). After abandonment, the Zn_R slightly increased and the Zn_C slightly decreased at the PM and AR sites at all depths, while the Zn_OM showed a noticeable variation in the uppermost 10 cm of the PT site. These results suggest that the soil organic matter that is provided during afforestation may play an important role in Zn fractionation and mobilization, depending on its humification degree and chemical stability. Zn mobilization could result in a positive nutrient supply for plants, but caution must be taken, since an excess of Zn could cause toxicity in long-term abandoned vineyards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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19 pages, 7982 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Early Growth Assessment of Lolium perenne L. as a Cover Crop for Management of Copper Accumulation in Galician Vineyard Soils

by Raquel Vázquez-Blanco, Manuel Arias-Estévez, David Fernández-Calviño and Daniel Arenas-Lago

Horticulturae 2023, 9(9), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9091029 - 13 Sep 2023

Viewed by 982

Abstract

This study investigates the potential use of Lolium perenne L. as a cover crop to improve vineyard soils with varying levels of copper (Cu). Cu-based fungicides are commonly used to control fungal diseases in vineyards, but their accumulation in soils poses environmental risks. This study aims to address this issue by evaluating the influence of soil properties on Cu availability and L. perenne growth. A total of 42 vineyard soils from different Designations of Origin (D.O.s) in Galicia were sampled and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The results showed most soils exceeded recommended Cu limits due to fungicide applications. Pot experiments were conducted to assess L. perenne growth and Cu accumulation. L. perenne biomass did not vary significantly with total soil Cu content, indicating that other factors such as organic matter and cation exchange capacity were more important for plant growth. While L. perenne showed Cu tolerance, its aerial Cu accumulation was inversely correlated with available Cu. This study provides insight into the potential of L. perenne as a cover crop for sustainable vineyard management and soil improvement and emphasizes the importance of considering Cu accumulation from fungicide applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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14 pages, 2230 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Thermal Requirements, Phenology, and Maturation of Juice Grape Cultivars Subjected to Different Pruning Types

by Camilo André Pereira Contreras Sánchez, Daniel Callili, Débora Cavalcante dos Santos Carneiro, Safira Pataro Sampaio da Silva, Ana Carolina Barduzzi Scudeletti, Sarita Leonel and Marco Antonio Tecchio

Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060691 - 11 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1063

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impacts of pruning methods (short and mixed pruning) on the duration of phenological phases and thermal requirements of juice grape cultivars (‘Bordô’, ‘BRS Cora’, and ‘BRS Violeta’), as well as to confirm the development of chemistry throughout berry ripening. The duration of the following phenological phases was measured in days after pruning over two production cycles: budburst, full-bloom, setting, veraison, and ripening. Degree days were used to compute the thermal requirements. Soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and maturation index were all measured as the berries ripened. There was no impact on the length of the phenological cycle or the thermal necessities of the vines due to the various types of pruning. In terms of cultivars, ‘BRS Violeta’ was found to be earlier than ‘Bordô’ and ‘BRS Cora’. In terms of chemical evolution, the berries achieved 16 °Brix at 21 and 28 days following the veraison, and the greatest values obtained were 17.0 (‘BRS Violeta’) and 18.4 °Brix (‘BRS Cora’). Furthermore, ‘BRS Cora’ produced more acidic berries. However, regardless of cultivar, the grapes were of high quality, making them a viable option for Brazilian subtropical viticulture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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Review

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48 pages, 1118 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Health of Vineyard Soils: Towards a Sustainable Viticulture

by Fernando Visconti, Roberto López and Miguel Ángel Olego

Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020154 - 6 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1901

Abstract

Soil health encompasses the effects the uppermost part of the land have on human wellbeing in a broad sense, because soil is where most food ultimately comes from, and because it more inconspicuously fulfils other ecological functions, as important as feeding, for our planet’s welfare, which is ours. Viticulture exploits the soil’s resources from which wine, its most valuable produce, boasts to obtain some of its unique quality traits, which are wrapped within the terroir concept. However, using conventional methods, viticulture also has harsh impacts on the soil, thus jeopardizing its sustainability. How long will the terroir expression remain unchanged as vineyard soil degradation goes on? While this question is difficult to answer because of the complex nature of terroirs, it is undeniable that conventional soil management practices in viticulture leave, in general, ample room for improvement, in their impact on vineyards as much as on the environment. In response, viticulture must adopt practices that enable the long-lasting preservation of its grounds for both on-farm and off-farm benefits. In this regard, the increase in the soil’s organic matter alongside the enhancement of the soil’s biological community are key because they benefit many other soil properties of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, thus determining the soil’s healthy functioning, where the vines may thrive for a long time, whereas its surroundings remain minimally disturbed. In the present review, the importance of soil health as it relates to vineyards is discussed, the soil degradation factors and processes that threaten winegrowing areas are presented, successful soil-health enhancement practices are shown, and future research trends are identified for the benefit of researchers and stakeholders in this special agricultural industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Viticulture: Soil Fertility, Plant Nutrition and Grape Quality)

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