Soil Erosion vs. Vineyard Productivity: The Case of the Aglianico del Vulture DOC and DOCG Areas (Southern Italy)

Abstract

Soil erosion in European Mediterranean vineyards is the main impact factor of uncontrolled solute and nutrient transport, degradation of soil structure, and loss of organic matter, which are key controlling factors in grape productivity and quality. The relationship between soil loss and grape productivity in the Aglianico DOC and DOCG areas of Southern Italy has been studied. Erosion values estimated through the RUSLE model were compared with grape productivity from 2011 to 2019. The obtained results show a negative correlation between the two parameters. The amounts of soil loss for different vineyard slope classes were also considered. The erosion values increase by an order of magnitude moving from the gentle slopes (0–5°) to the steeper ones (>30°), typical of hilly and mountainous areas. The planned shift in the future of vineyards towards these altitudinal bands could prove to be uneconomical if conservative techniques are not carried out.