Exploring soil heterogeneity across scales in a Chianti vineyard (Italy) using EMI, multi-resolution ERT and plant-scale time-lapse imaging

Understanding water dynamics in the root zone is crucial for improving eco-hydrological modelling and sustainable agricultural practices. However, soil processes in agricultural environments are strongly affected by spatial heterogeneity, and observations often depend on the measurement scale and on the sampled support volume. Here we present a multi-scale hydrogeophysical investigation carried out in a vineyard in the Chianti area (Tuscany, Italy), designed to connect field-scale characterization with high-resolution imaging at the plant scale. The study combines electromagnetic induction (EMI) surveys using a multi-coil CMD Mini Explorer to map near-surface variability across the vineyard, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles acquired with different electrode spacings (1 m, 0.5 m and 0.25 m) to progressively increase spatial resolution in the first meters of the subsurface, with a specific focus on the first meter. To further explore root-zone dynamics at the finest scale, we performed a high-resolution 3D time-lapse ERT experiment around a single grapevine. A dense micro-ERT array was installed around the plant and repeated measurements were acquired every two hours. The experiment was repeated in two contrasting periods (October and July), and each monitoring campaign included two controlled irrigation phases to trigger transient hydrological responses. In parallel, the vineyard hosts additional monitoring activities (e.g. Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing), which provide broader hydrological context. Overall, this dataset illustrates how combining EMI, multi-resolution ERT and plant-scale 3D time-lapse imaging can help quantify soil heterogeneity across scales and improve the interpretation of near-surface processes relevant to infiltration and root-zone dynamics in precision viticulture.