Sensitivity of Trunk Diameter Fluctuations inVitis viniferaL. Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon Cultivars

Abstract

Abstract:The effects of different applied water amounts on the behavior of parameters derived from trunk diameter fluctuations were studied during three consecutive seasons (2004 to 2006) in a mature vineyard planted with Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo and cv. Cabernet Sauvignon in Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) was calculated from trunk diameter fluctuations. The response of MDS to different irrigation treatments varied in the amplitude of the signal between the two cultivars. Tempranillo MDS was significantly higher than that of Cabernet Sauvignon in the period before veraison for the three years. MDS decreased in magnitude after veraison regardless of irrigation treatment and tended to be similar in the two varieties, except for one year where there were cultivar differences in yield caused by differential effects of a frost. Irrigation treatment differences in MDS were significant in 2004 and 2005 at pre-and postveraison, while in 2006 they were nonsignificant, possibly due to the very low yield caused by a late frost which differentially affected the cultivars, suggesting that yield level may be another factor to consider when attempting to use MDS for irrigation management. It appears that the use of trunk diameter sensors for irrigation scheduling in winegrapes would require a specific calibration for the different cultivars.

A Review of the Potential Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Options for European Viticulture

“…Among those indicators, stem and leaf water potential have been extensively used. More recently, other techniques, such as trunk diameter variations and sap flow measurements have been implemented, with the advantage of possible automation [188,189].…”

Optimization of Vineyard Water Management: Challenges, Strategies, and Perspectives

“…Temporal patterns of water flow within the trees and grapevines cause stem diameter variations (SDV); the magnitude of these variations depends on stem diameter and wood elasticity [133]. Linear variable displacement transducers (LVDTs) provide continuous measurements of stem and trunk diameter fluctuations (TDFs), which are related to plant growth and water status [130,134]. Different water stress indicators can be derived from the resulting daily patterns of SDV [72], including maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and stem growth rate (SGR), which are the most commonly used in irrigation scheduling and other agronomic practices such as cover crop management and fertilization.…”

“…In the case of grapevines, the usefulness of MDS as a water stress indicator has been questioned due to its dependence on the phenological period [137]. Moreover, it appears that the use of LVDTs for scheduling irrigation and other water management practices in vineyards would require a specific calibration for different grapevine cultivars [134]. Recently, a study pointed out that the different hydraulic pathways generated by particular training systems can cause a different response of trunk diameter fluctuations [130].…”

Vineyard Practice

“…As with sap-flow sensors, they permit the option for continuous monitoring. Studies by Montoro et al (2012) indicate that trunk diameter measurements may need to be calibrated for individual cultivars and adjusted relative to crop load. The technique has been reviewed by Fernández and Cuevas (2010).…”