- CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, IAFES, Italy (gabriele.pizzileo@cmcc.it)
Optimizing soil management practices in vineyards is essential for enhancing grapevine resilience under climate change conditions. This study, funded by the Italian PNRR AGRITECH project, exploits low-cost sensors (TreeTalkers) to evaluate the effects of different soil management practices on sap flow density and crop yield across the annual growth cycle, particularly under heat stress conditions, defined as temperatures exceeding 35°C. Real-time sensors allowed monitoring of physiological and environmental parameters in two plots of a controlled vineyard environment, comparing conventional tillage vs no-tillage with spontaneous cover crops used as mulch. Data were analyzed based on temperature thresholds and branch position. Results from the TreeTalkers are presented into a visualization platform and indicate a significant correlation between soil management practices and sap flow density at high temperatures, highlighting the benefits of no-tillage and mulching in mitigating the effects of heat stress and enhancing grapevine resilience against heat waves, an increasingly pressing issue in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, no significant differences in sap flow density or yield were observed between lower and upper branches, suggesting uniform physiological performance across plant structures. This study highlights the importance of integrating real-time low-cost technologies to promote sustainable viticulture and broader Earth observation applications.
How to cite: Pizzileo, G., Beltramino, S., Nuzzo, A., Scardigno, V., and Chiriacò, M. V.: Soil management and branch position influence wine grape physiology: insights from TreeTalkers data on sap flow, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5591, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5591, 2025.
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