- Ground cover: Ground covers help to combat soil erosion but may compete with the vineyard for water and minerals. Two types of management of the cover crops established between rows will be implemented (moderate cover and intensive cover), and their impact on the water status of the vineyard will be assessed. To do so, periodic phenological observations, measurements of water and physiological status, monitoring of vegetative growth, and individual vine productivity will be carried out, along with grape sampling and physico-chemical analysis.
- Kaolin application: Kaolin diluted in water and applied directly on the vineyard can help mitigate the impact of climate change by lowering the surface temperature of the plant, potentially reducing heat stress. To evaluate the impact of kaolin application in the vineyard, four different conditions (two doses and two application timings) will be tested across different campaigns. Measurements will include water potential, thermography, and other indicators. At harvest, basic analytical parameters (pH, Brix, total acidity) and phenolic maturity (total anthocyanins, color index, total polyphenol index, total tannins, catechins) will be determined. Yield per vine will also be assessed, including the number of bunches and the total weight of the harvest.
Prerivid Activities
The PRERIVID project includes a series of key activities to achieve its objectives:
Activity 1
Model for calculating vineyard water needs and estimating 7-day requirements.
Throughout the implementation of the project (2024, 2025, and 2026 campaigns), data will be collected on soil water content and stem water potential, and agronomic field monitoring will be carried out (phenological stage, canopy characterization, recording of management practices affecting the canopy and active ground cover, and determination of external leaf area at veraison). Using this data, current water needs will be estimated, and future requirements will be predicted by integrating climatic data with predictive models of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop coefficient (Kc).
Activity 2
7-day prediction model for reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop coefficient (Kc).
The data collected during the first campaign (2024) will allow for an initial approximation of the crop coefficient (Kc) for each vineyard. Once validated, this data will enable the development of preliminary prediction models for ETo and Kc. These models will be tested and adjusted during the second implementation phase of the project, in the 2026 campaign, in order to obtain a final model by April 2027.
Activity 3
Irrigation management tool to determine the current water needs of the vineyard and estimate future irrigation requirements.
The previously developed models will serve as the engine for the irrigation management tool. The tool will be accessible from any device connected to the Internet and will allow users to easily visualize the vineyard’s water needs and be informed of the irrigation duration required to meet the estimated needs over the following 7 days.
Activity 4
Management of agronomic techniques affecting the water status of the vineyard.
Activity 5
Effect of water stress and cultural practices on grape quality
Water and the different vineyard management practices have a significant impact on the composition and quality of the grapes and wine, contributing to their color, aroma, flavor, and tactile sensations. To assess their impact, grape samples will be taken at harvest time for quality analysis by treatment. Physicochemical and color parameters will be analyzed, as well as phenolic maturity and compounds involved in the aromatic quality of the grapes (volatile compounds).
Activity 6
Prediction of water stress and nutritional quality of the vineyard using NIR spectroscopy.
Digital technologies such as NIR-MIR spectroscopy allow for the rapid, accurate, and non-destructive assessment of water stress and the nutritional status of the crop. Leaf samples will be taken at different times during the vineyard’s vegetative cycle to perform NIR measurements, which will be correlated, using statistical tools, with the vineyard’s water status and the nutritional composition of the leaves.
Activity 7
Economic impact of irrigation practices and crop management (cover crops and kaolin) on vineyard management.
The activities related to irrigation management, the implementation of ground covers, and the application of kaolin will be economically assessed in order to conduct a cost-benefit analysis from a business perspective.