Grapevine root distribution in drip and microsprinkler irrigation

Abstract

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) yield and its quality are dependent of the status of the root system. Root distribution information is also valuable for soil and water management. An analysis of methods to evaluate the root distribution of grapevines for both, drip and microsprinkler irrigation in a Typic Acrustox is presented for the table grape cv. Italia grafted on the rootstock IAC-313, in northeastern Brazil. Measured root parameters using the monolith method were root dry weight (Dw) and root length density (Lv), while root area (Ap) was estimated using the soil profile method in combination with digital image analysis. For both irrigation systems, roots were present to the 1 m soil depth and extended laterally to 1 m distance from the trunk, but grapevines irrigated by microsprinkler showed greater root presence as the distance from the trunk increased. Values of Ap were reasonably well correlated to Dw and Lv. However, correlation values were higher when fractional root distribution was used. The soil profile method in combination with image analysis techniques, allows proper grapevine root distribution evaluation.

The effect of changing patterns in soil-moisture availability on grapevine root distribution, and viticultural implications for converting full-cover irrigation into a point-source irrigation system

“…In our study it was surprising how localised the changes in root distribution were, inasmuch as the dripper spacing of 50 cm and even the placement of the drip-line relative to the row clearly had an impact on the root distributions, particularly in the shallower layers where the wetting band from a point source emitter is narrowest. Undertaking a similar study in Brazil, which compared drip irrigation with micro sprinkler irrigation, Bassoi et al (2003) did not find as dramatic an increase in root distribution under drip as we encountered in our study. The experimental block in Brazil had high growing season rainfall (512 mm) in contrast to the studies in South Africa (van Zyl 1988), Loxton South Australia (Stevens and Douglas 1994) and the present study, and thus the pattern of root growth in Brazil is likely to be less affected by irrigation.…”

Tolerance to Lime - Induced Chlorosis and Drought in Grapevine Rootstocks

“…Typically, root distribution studies include root biomass or root length as a function of soil depth, distance from the plant stem, and position between neighbouring plants (Bassoi et al, 2003).…”

Effect of soil management strategies on the characteristics of the grapevine root system in irrigated vineyards under semi-arid conditions

“…In order to achieve this, it is necessary to understand grapevine responses under these particular environmental conditions. The understanding of root responses is particularly important, as grapevine vigour, yield and grape composition partially depend on the uptake of water and nutrients by the vine root system (Bassoi et al ). Nevertheless, research on grapevine roots is less common than above‐ground vine measurements due to the difficulty of working in the root environment and studying perennial root systems (Soar and Loveys , de Herralde et al ).…”