No abstract

Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer and inappropriate fertilization designs have negative results in agricultural ecosystems, such as considerable nitrogen losses through nitrogen dioxide (NO2) soil leaching and ammonia NH3 volatilization. In addition, climate change, with rising summer temperatures and reduced precipitation, leads to production declines and water shortages in the soil. This review aims to highlight the characteristics of natural zeolite and focus on their multiple uses in agriculture. These minerals are tectosilicates showing an open three-dimensional structure involving the cations required to balance the framework electrostatic charge of aluminum and silicon tetrahedral units. Different research groups reported more than fifty natural zeolites; chabazite, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, erionite, stilbite, heulandite, and mordenite are the most well-known. Zeolites are great tools to help the farmer and agronomist cope with several issues, such as soil or water pollution, contamination by heavy metals, loss of nutrients, and loss of water-use efficiency (WUE) of drylands. These natural crystalline aluminosilicates are considered soil conditioners to improve soil chemical and physical properties, such as saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), infiltration rate, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and water-holding capacity (WHC). Owing to their properties, these materials are able to reduce nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization. Zeolites are also known for their carrying capacity of slow-release macronutrients, micronutrients, and fertilizers. However, the potential of these materials in agricultural areas is apparent, and zeolites show the promise of contributing directly to improve agricultural ecosystems as a sustainable product.

Soil management in vineyards is of fundamental importance not only for the productivity and quality of grapes, both in biological and conventional management, but also for greater sustainability of the production. Conservative soil management techniques play an important role, compared to conventional tillage, in order to preserve biodiversity, to save soil fertility, and to keep vegetative-productive balance. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate long-term adaptation strategies to create a balance between the vine and the surrounding environment. This work sought to assess the effects of following different management practices on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon during 2017 and 2018 seasons: soil tillage (T), temporary cover cropping over all inter-rows (C), and mulching with plant residues every other row (M). The main physiological parameters of vines (leaf gas exchange, stem water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence, and indirect chlorophyll content) as well as qualitative and quantitative grape parameters (technological and phenolic analyses) were measured. Significant differences in gas exchanges related to the different season and inter-row management were observed. C showed more negative values of water potential, due to the grass–vine competition, especially when water availability was lower. The competition exerted by C led to differences in fruit setting with impact on yield; therefrom, significant differences also in sugar and anthocyanic content were observed.

No abstract

Grapevine canopy defoliation is a fundamentally important technique for the productivity and quality of grapes. Leaf removal is a pivotal operation on high-density vines which aims to improve air circulation, light exposure, and leaf gas exchange. The effects of leaf removal (LR) on vine physiology and berry composition in Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines were studied during the 2018–2019 growing season in the Bolgheri area, Tuscany, Italy. The basal leaves were removed at fruit set at two severity levels (removal of four basal leaves of each shoot (LR4) and removal of eight basal leaves (LR8)). The two treatments were compared with the not defoliated control (CTRL). The following physiological parameters of vines were measured: leaf gas exchange, leaf water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence and indirect chlorophyll content. The results showed that defoliation increased single leaf photosynthesis. In addition, qualitative grape parameters (phenolic and technological analyses) and daytime and night-time berry temperature were studied. The results showed that leaf removal had an impact on total soluble solids (°Brix), titratable acidity, and pH. The LR8-treated grapes had higher titratable acidity, while those in the LR4 treatment had higher °Brix and extractable anthocyanin and polyphenol content. Berry weight was not significantly influenced by the timing and severity of basal defoliation. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effects of defoliation at the fruit set on vines performance.

In the Mediterranea area, major effects of climate change are a modification in rainfall patterns, an increase in temperature with an intensify in tropical nights, and an increase in incoming radiations, especially UV-Bs. Despite the various adaptation strategies, grapevines are sensitive to altered climatic conditions. This paper aims to assess the benefits of applying a new sustainable product to the soil that can implement farmers’ resources to adapt to this changing situation. Zeowine was realized by combining the properties of zeolite, which has excellent potential in many sectors such as in agriculture, with the organic substance of a compost obtained on a company scale from the reuse of waste processing grapes, pomace and stalks. The effects of two different soil management (Z – Zeowine, 30 t/ha dose and C – Compost, 20 t/ha dose) on vine physiology and berry compositions in Sanforte grapevines (new plantation) were studied during the 2019–2020–2021 growing seasons in the San Miniato area, Italy. The following physiological parameters of grapevines were measured: leaf gas exchange, leaf temperature, stem water potential and chlorophyll fluorescence. The results showed that Z increased single leaf photosynthesis, reduced leaf temperature and water stress. In addition, phenolic and technological parameters were studied. The Z-treated vines had higher sugar content and total and extractable anthocyanin content as well as berry weight. These results suggested that the application of zeolites added to compost in the vineyard to the soil can be a valid tool to mitigate the effects of climate change.

No abstract

In Mediterranean regions, extreme weather conditions during the growing season may alter grapevine physiology and metabolism, thus modifying the quality of wines. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum treatments on plant physiology and berry metabolism in Vitis vinifera exposed to water stress. The experiment was performed on potted vines subjected to two irrigation regimes (well-watered, WW, and water stressed, WS) both associated with A. nodosum treatments (SWE), compared with control plants (CTRL). Gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water relations were monitored on SWE and CTRL leaves, both in WW and WS vines at three times. Moreover, the quantification of secondary metabolites and their partitioning were performed in berry skins. Plants treated with A. nodosum extract showed higher photosynthesis and stomatal conductance than CTRL in both irrigation regimes and maintained a better plant hydraulic conductivity at the end of the sampling period. In addition, secondary metabolites in berry skins and their partitioning were significantly affected by the treatments in both irrigation regimes. Our results suggest that foliar application of A. nodosum extract may help the acclimation of grapevines to post-veraison water stress, likely improving plant physiological and biochemical performances under environmental constraints.