Search Results (563)

Soil mulching influences soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics and microbial communities, yet the functional potential linking these factors remains unclear. This two-year field study compared biodegradable liquid film (BLF, C:N = 26:1, 161 kg C·ha⁻¹) and grapevine branch mulch (GBM, C:N = 51:1, 2790 kg C·ha⁻¹) applied in-row in a vineyard, with clean tillage as control. The Vitis vinifera cv. Meili was used as the test material, SOC fractions were determined and metagenomic sequencing was performed. The results showed that GBM had the highest SOC content and significantly increased the levels of total organic carbon, all five labile fractions, and the three recalcitrant fractions. BLF significantly increased the levels of recalcitrant fractions, while its effect on labile fractions varied by year. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the two mulching treatments significantly influenced the abundances of Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Bacteroidetes. Redundancy analysis identified soil moisture, pH, SOC, and total nitrogen as key drivers of community structure. Mulching downregulated carbon fixation and methane metabolism genes but upregulated carbohydrate metabolism pathways, including O-glycan biosynthesis, which correlated positively with SOC. Glycosyl transferases were the dominant carbohydrate-active enzymes across all treatments. These results demonstrate that GBM and BLF differentially affect SOC fractions and microbial functional traits, providing empirical evidence for mulch selection in vineyard carbon management. Full article

Traditional soil management relies on “whole-field” averages, which leads to resource waste and environmental degradation under anthropogenic pressures. While combining electromagnetic induction (EMI) and remote sensing is known for digital soil mapping, current approaches lack a unified, automated framework to handle complex multi-source data dependencies for local-scale precision irrigation. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces a novel integrated methodology that couples high-resolution geophysical datasets and remote/proximal sensing through an automated machine learning workflow, capturing dynamic soil–human interaction boundaries more precisely than traditional empirical overlays. The general methodology was tested in a vineyard plot within the Torre Guaceto Natural Reserve (Southern Italy). Spatial datasets from EMI and remote sensing were integrated. Crucially, the K-means clustering algorithm was deployed early in the workflow to optimize the fused datasets and classify the plot into homogeneous zone clusters. The machine learning approach successfully identified two distinct main soil clusters. The spatial boundaries of these zones were rigorously validated using in situ soil moisture data from capacitance sensors, showing a statistically significant variance in volumetric water content between the two zones. This study demonstrates that integrated machine learning workflows can accurately delineate precision agricultural zones without relying on high-cost exhaustive sampling. It is recommended that farmers and managers within sensitive nature reserves adopt this cluster-based Variable Rate Application (VRA) for water and fertilizers to optimize resource efficiency and prevent nutrient leaching into underlying aquifers. Full article

Grape cultivation and processing generate large amounts of pruned vine branches and grape pomace, which can be converted into biochar as an effective recycling strategy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pyrolysis temperature (300–600 °C) and residence time (0.5–4 h) on biochar physicochemical properties and to evaluate the short-term impacts of biochar–manure co-application on vineyard soil physical quality. A total of 13 biochar variants were produced from vine branches (9 treatments, L₉(3²) orthogonal design) and grape pomace (4 treatments, L₄(2²) orthogonal design) under oxygen-limited pyrolysis. Biochar properties were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Based on comprehensive evaluation, branch-derived biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 4 h (BC4-300; specific surface area: 24.07 m²·g⁻¹) and pomace-derived biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 1 h (BP1-300; pH: 8.2–9.1) were selected as optimal soil amendments. A field experiment was then conducted using a randomized complete block design with ten treatment combinations (five for each biochar type), in which biochar was applied at 10 or 30 t·ha⁻¹ and co-applied with cattle manure at 10 or 30 t·ha⁻¹. After one growing season, BC4-300 significantly enhanced topsoil (0–20 cm) aggregate stability, increasing the mean weight diameter (MWD) by up to 27.8% compared with the control. In contrast, BP1-300 significantly improved subsoil (20–40 cm) aggregate stability, increasing the proportion of water-stable aggregates > 0.25 mm (R_0.25) by 15.6%. Moderate application rates (10 t·ha⁻¹ biochar + 10 t·ha⁻¹ manure) reduced subsoil bulk density by 6.3%. These findings demonstrate that optimizing pyrolysis parameters enables feedstock-specific biochar production and provide practical guidance for short-term soil physical improvement in sustainable vineyard management. Full article

To establish the relationship between the composition of wine and its regional origin, the most stable chemical parameters are selected because their variation is easiest to trace. Together with “classical” micro- and macroelements, rare earth elements (REEs) can be used for such purposes. However, the relationship between REE content in wine and its regional origin has not been systematically studied. This study examines the migration of REEs in the “soil-grape-wine” system to identify the relationship along the entire chain and establish the geographical origin of grapes and wine. The research was carried out on grapes and wines from the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, as well as soil samples selected from different vineyards. The concentrations of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu in the studied samples were determined using ICP-MS. It was established that the studied soil samples are characterized by relatively low REE concentrations. Low transfer of REEs from soil to grapes was observed because the soils are rich in clay minerals that firmly retain these elements. Statistically significant differences in the REE content of grapes from different regions were detected (p < 0.05). Multidimensional analysis methods allowed us to group grape samples into clusters based on varietal and regional origin. Discriminant analysis showed the possibility of using the concentration of REEs as markers of the geographical origin of grapes. Of all the REEs, only La and Ce are reliably established in all wines. When determining the geographical origin of wine, the use of REE content is limited due to their very low concentrations in wine. In this regard, it has been proposed to use them in combination with macro- and microelements, which improves the classification performance of the model. Full article

Soil texture is a key determinant shaping bacterial communities in vineyard ecosystems, yet how different soil textures modulate bacterial characteristics in rhizosphere versus bulk soils during grapevine growth remains poorly understood. This study collected rhizosphere and bulk soil samples from five commercial Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the eastern piedmont of Helan Mountain, Ningxia, China, spanning three distinct textures (gravelly, calcareous, and aeolian sandy soils). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing, soil physicochemical analysis, and four soil enzyme activity (alkaline phosphatase, urease, catalase, and invertase) measurements were conducted, using PERMANOVA and RDA to identify dominant driving factors. The results showed that bacteria accounted for 97.6% of all annotated sequences, representing the dominant group in soil microbial communities. Significant differences in bacterial abundance and alpha diversity (Chao1, ACE, Shannon, and Simpson) were observed in bulk soils across textures, whereas rhizosphere soils showed significant abundance differences but similar diversity levels. However, the 50 cm bulk soil sampling distance may have attenuated the true rhizosphere effect, and these findings should be interpreted with this methodological constraint in mind. Notably, bacterial community structure differed significantly between soils of the same pedogenic type but different textures, confirming that soil texture, rather than pedogenic classification, is the primary driver. Thirteen dominant bacterial phyla (>1% relative abundance) were identified, with Proteobacteria (47.7%), Actinobacteriota (22.9%), and Acidobacteriota (6.5%) as the main taxa. Mantel tests revealed significant correlations between nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter contents and enzyme activities in rhizosphere soils (r ≥ 0.4, p < 0.01). RDA indicated that total phosphorus (TP), organic matter (OM), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), Mg, pH, available K (AK), and enzyme activities were key drivers of bacterial community structure (p < 0.05). Annotated metabolic functions based on KEGG orthology indicated lower overall metabolic pathway abundances in gravelly soils compared to calcareous and aeolian sandy soils. In conclusion, soil texture, rather than broad pedogenic classification, primarily shapes vineyard bacterial communities, providing a theoretical basis for precision viticulture and sustainable soil management. Full article

Mediterranean agroecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, soil degradation, and declining soil organic carbon (SOC), threatening long-term agricultural sustainability. Carbon farming and regenerative agriculture have emerged as complementary approaches to restore soil functionality while contributing to climate change mitigation. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 to assess the agronomic effectiveness of key regenerative and carbon farming practices in Mediterranean systems. A structured bibliographic analysis using Scopus and Web of Science evaluated practices influencing SOC dynamics, erosion control, water regulation, and associated ecosystem services. Evidence indicates that the introduction of cover crops in the crop rotation and reduced or no-tillage are the most consistently effective practices for enhancing SOC stocks, particularly when combined with organic amendments and diversified rotations. Crop diversification, intercropping, and agroforestry further support SOC accumulation and erosion control, especially in perennial systems such as vineyards and olive orchards. Organic inputs stimulate microbial-mediated carbon stabilization, while regenerative grazing contributes to nutrient cycling under context-specific conditions. Across practices, integrated management consistently delivers greater and more stable benefits than single interventions. Regenerative agriculture thus provides a systems-based foundation for carbon farming in Mediterranean agroecosystems. Long-term field experiments and improved monitoring frameworks remain essential to quantify carbon persistence and support policy implementation. Full article

Despite extensive studies, global patterns governing the accumulation of essential and non-essential elements in grapevine leaves remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, a comprehensive literature survey of 148 studies (selected according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines) was compared with authentic elemental analyses of young and mature leaves of the white cultivar Rhein Riesling and the red cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon to identify the major drivers of grapevine leaf ionome composition. In unstressed grapevine leaves, macroelements followed the concentration order Ca > K > Mg > P, whereas microelements decreased in the order Fe > Mn > Cu > B > Zn > Mo. Seasonal development was associated with opposite trends between Ca and Mg versus K and P. Geographic origin and berry color were associated mainly with differences in Ca, P, Mn, Cu and Fe concentrations. In our authentic samples, potentially toxic elements occurred at substantially lower concentrations than commonly reported in the literature (mainly Pb, Co, As, Cd, Cs, Al, Sr, Ba, Li and Zr). Mature leaves accumulated higher levels of non-essential elements than young leaves, although bioaccumulation from soil remained generally low. Correlation analyses further demonstrated cultivar-dependent relationships among elements, particularly involving Mg. Multivariate analyses revealed that leaf developmental stage represented the primary factor shaping elemental composition, while cultivar-specific effects constituted a secondary but detectable source of variation. Our results identify phenological stage as a dominant factor controlling ionomic composition and suggest that Mg-, Fe-, Zn-, and Cu-associated processes may contribute to the regulation of the accumulation of toxic elements in grapevine leaves. Full article

(1) Background: Soil nutrient availability in vineyards is shaped by physicochemical and biological processes. However, how baseline edaphic differences are related to soil microbial functional genes and plant elemental composition under biodynamic management remains unclear; (2) Methods: Two biodynamically managed Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard sites in Tasmania, hereafter referred to as site 1 (S1) and site 2 (S2), were compared at fruit set, veraison, and ripening. Soil physicochemical properties were measured, soil, leaf, and grape berry elemental compositions were assessed by X-ray fluorescence, and soil microbial taxonomic marker genes and soil microbial functional genes were quantified by qPCR. Because the dataset comprised only six site-by-stage composite samples without independent field-level biological replication, multivariate analyses and partial least squares path modeling were used as exploratory tools; (3) Results: The two sites showed distinct baseline soil physicochemical properties. Soil microbial functional genes varied across sites and phenological stages, with several nitrogen (N)-cycling genes showing higher values at S1 and amoA increasing toward ripening at both sites. AMG, defined here as an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF)-related marker, also increased toward ripening and was interpreted separately from the N-cycling genes. Soil elements mainly reflected site-related differences, whereas leaf and berry elements showed clearer variation across phenological stages. The exploratory path model, based on this limited composite dataset, summarized sequential associations among soil physicochemical properties, microbial functional genes, leaf elements, and berry elements, as well as a direct association between soil physicochemical properties and berry elemental composition; (4) Conclusions: These findings describe exploratory soil–microbe–plant association patterns under biodynamic management and should not be interpreted as statistically inferential or causal evidence. Full article

Climate change and soil degradation pose a challenge to grape quality, motivating the development of integrated monitoring approaches combining soil analysis with remote sensing techniques. However, harmonized information addressing this multidisciplinary challenge remains scarce. Therefore, this systematic review synthesizes the scientific literature published since 2020 with the aim of (i) identifying key soil properties and techniques applied, (ii) evaluating remote sensing approaches and their integration with soil data, and (iii) highlighting knowledge gaps and challenges for sustainable precision viticulture. A search in Scopus yielded 197 full-text articles classified into three thematic groups and analyzed using a standardized extraction protocol. Our synthesis reveals that pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, and cation exchange capacity are the most consistently reported physicochemical parameters across the reviewed studies, while next-generation sequencing and multi-omics approaches are increasingly adopted in microbiological research to characterize rhizosphere communities and their links to terroir expression. In remote sensing, multispectral UAV platforms and satellite missions (Sentinel-2, Landsat) combined with vegetation indices, principally NDVI, dominate the toolset for monitoring vine vigor and water status. Nevertheless, genuine integration of remote-sensing outputs with root-zone soil measurements remains uncommon, with most studies treating both data streams independently. The principal knowledge gaps identified concern the absence of standardized sustainability assessment frameworks, limited cross-terroir transferability of predictive models, and insufficient long-term multi-site datasets to underpin climate change adaptation in vineyard management. Full article

Rootstock selection is a key component of sustainable vineyard planning, as it strongly influences vine adaptation to soil and environmental conditions. Despite its importance, this decision is often based on empirical knowledge rather than on structured, site-specific approaches. This study presents SR-Vitis, a decision-support module developed within the Vitis system, designed to support rootstock selection through a rule-based framework integrating pedological, climatic, and agronomic variables. The model translates site-specific characteristics into suitability criteria for a set of widely used European rootstocks. The system was applied to four vineyards located in two contrasting Italian winegrowing regions (Chianti Classico and Alta Murgia) to assess the coherence of the model outputs under different pedoclimatic conditions. The comparison with existing tools and current grower choices showed a general agreement in most cases, while also identifying situations where alternative rootstocks may better match site constraints. These results suggest that SR-Vitis can effectively support a more structured and transparent decision-making process. Although not intended as a predictive validation study, this work provides a first operational assessment of the model and highlights its potential as a practical tool for vineyard planning. By integrating expert knowledge and soil-based criteria into an accessible digital framework, SR-Vitis contributes to bridging the gap between empirical practices and data-supported approaches, supporting viticultural adaptation under increasing environmental variability. Full article

Sustainable agriculture increasingly relies on organic amendments that integrate circular economy principles. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-derived compost (MSW-compost) represents a promising candidate as soil amendment in viticulture, yet its impact on soil microbiota remains poorly investigated. This study assessed the effects of MSW-compost application on the bacterial microbiota of a Mediterranean vineyard soil over a twelve-month period, comparing two application methods (surface mulching and tillage incorporation). Soil DNA was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, complemented by functional prediction (Picrust2) and the Tea Bag Index to assess soil decomposition activity. MSW-compost significantly increased alpha-diversity and affected beta-diversity (p = 0.001) of the microbiota, regardless of the application method, with significant effects persisting throughout the entire observation period despite a clearly diminishing trend. Devosia emerged as the hub taxon of the co-occurrence network and was increased by compost addition. MSW-compost application mode remarkably affected the microbial network, with mulched treatment leading to a more complex, denser, and more interconnected network. While a similar number of taxa were increased or decreased, functional prediction revealed a notable enrichment of metabolic pathways, both synthetic and degradative, in the MSW-compost amended samples; this finding was supported by the enhanced red tea decomposition data (p = 0.007). Our results indicate that MSW-compost acts as a beneficial soil amendment, simultaneously enhancing microbial diversity and soil decomposition activity. This study provides novel evidence supporting the use of MSW-compost as a sustainable tool for improving soil microbiological quality in productive vineyards. Full article

Mediterranean organic viticulture requires sustainable pest management strategies that leverage local soil biodiversity. This study isolated endemic entomopathogenic fungi from vineyard soils in Nemea, Greece, using a dual-insect baiting system with Tribolium confusum and Sitophilus spp. The recovered isolates caused complete mortality in bait insects, with mycelial emergence from 93.75% of cadavers. DNA sequencing of the ITS1 region identified the recovered isolates as Purpureocillium lilacinum. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Nemea isolates (TD and TM series) form a monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support, showing distinct genetic divergence from the reference strain P. lilacinum NRRL 895—evidence of a unique “microbial terroir.” Virulence assays demonstrated species-dependent mortality against stored-product pests: Sitophilus granarius was the most susceptible (76.7% mortality; LT₅₀ = 1.9 days), followed by Sitophilus zeamais (61.1%; LT₅₀ = 2.7 days), Tribolium confusum (56.7%; LT₅₀ = 2.8 days), and Sitophilus oryzae (50.0%; LT₅₀ = 3.3 days). Mycosis confirmation (65–83%) and 0% control mortality confirmed pathogenicity. As locally adapted biological control agents, these endemic P. lilacinum strains are highly suitable for protecting crops from major insect pests. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is widely recognized as a major forage crop, yet its role as a multifunctional biological input in sustainable horticultural production remains underexplored. This review evaluates alfalfa as a biological nitrogen source, organic fertilization resource, and biofertilizer-supporting crop within vegetable, medicinal, and perennial horticultural systems. Due to its high capacity for biological nitrogen fixation, alfalfa can supply substantial amounts of plant-available nitrogen, reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers and supporting environmentally sound nutrient management. When used as green manure, cover crop, intercrop, mulch source, compost feedstock, or processed organic fertilizer, alfalfa enhances the soil organic carbon (SOC), improves soil structure, and increases the water-holding capacity properties particularly critical in intensive horticultural production. Higher SOC levels also contribute to the improved tolerance of horticultural crops to drought and heat stress through enhanced soil moisture retention and rhizosphere buffering. Alfalfa-based organic inputs stimulate rhizosphere microbial biomass, enzymatic activity, and functional genes associated with nitrogen cycling, strengthening plant–microbe interactions that underpin biofertilizer effectiveness. Evidence from vegetable and perennial systems indicates that alfalfa-derived amendments and rotations increase soil nitrogen availability, support yield stability, and improve soil health over the long-term. In orchards and vineyards, alfalfa cover cropping contributes to carbon sequestration, erosion control, and enhanced soil biological functioning. Overall, alfalfa emerges as a strategic species for integrating organic fertilization and biofertilizer-based approaches into modern horticultural systems, supporting reduced mineral fertilizer inputs while sustaining productivity, soil health, and environmental quality. Full article

Soil surface moisture (SSM) is a critical indicator of agricultural drought, yet high-resolution projections under climate change remain scarce. This study develops a machine learning framework to predict and project SSM at 1 km resolution across five European Living Labs (LLs), encompassing vineyards, olive groves, and fruit tree systems. Historical Sentinel-1 SSM observations (2014–2024) were used to train ensemble models (Random Forest, XGBoost, ExtraTrees, LightGBM) incorporating climate variables, soil texture, topography, and land use. Tree-based models achieved R² values of 0.63–0.87. Vineyards showed the highest predictability (R² ≈ 0.87), reflecting their sensitivity to short-term atmospheric demand and surface water availability, whereas olive groves were the least predictable (R² ≈ 0.63–0.68), consistent with deeper rooting systems and greater drought buffering capacity. When forced with bias-corrected CMIP6 projections under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 for 2041–2070, models indicate minimal changes under SSP1-2.6 but pronounced SSM declines of 8–24% under SSP5-8.5, with historically wetter regions experiencing the largest absolute losses. SHAP analysis confirmed precipitation and potential evapotranspiration as dominant predictors across all crops. This framework provides spatially explicit, crop-relevant SSM projections to support climate adaptation in European agricultural landscapes. Full article

This narrative review develops fermentation-oriented viticulture as an agronomic-oenological framework linking vineyard environment, management and must ecology to fermentation performance. The literature from 2010 to April 2026 was synthesized through structured searches in PubMed and Google Scholar, complemented by targeted searches in MDPI, Frontiers, Nature, ScienceDirect, OENO One, PNAS and European Union regulatory sources, with emphasis on 2020–2026 publications and retention of older foundational sources. Current evidence indicates that must microbiota is not a linear derivative of soil or berry surfaces, but a network outcome of connected habitats spanning the viticultural biotope and grapevine-associated biocenosis (soil, rhizosphere, phyllosphere, berry, insect, atmospheric and winery). Climate warming, drought, altered phenology, soil fertility, nitrogen nutrition, crop-protection programs and bio-based inputs jointly modify berry chemistry, yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN), microbial inocula and pre-fermentative selection pressures. The review distinguishes fermentation-oriented viticulture from descriptive microbial terroir by defining practical endpoints: fermentation onset and completion, sluggish or stuck fermentation risk, microbial stability, spoilage taxa, volatilome development and wine typicity. It also proposes operational indicators and a decision matrix for integrating vineyard and winery management. The framework supports future multi-vintage studies combining climate, soil, agronomic metadata, YAN, microbiome profiling and microvinification outcomes. Full article