Vineyard microclimate and yield under different plastic covers

Abstract

The use of plastic cover in vineyards minimizes effects of adverse weather conditions. The northwest of São Paulo State is one of the largest grape producing regions in Brazil; however, few studies investigate the effects of different plastic covers on vineyards in this region. This study compared the effect of black shading screen (BSS) and braided polypropylene film (BPF) on BRS Morena vineyard microclimate, grown on an overhead trellis system in the northwestern São Paulo. The experiments were carried out during three growing seasons (2012-2014). BSS allowed superior incoming solar radiation (SR) transmissivity, resulting in higher net radiation (Rn), and higher ratio between photosynthetically active (PAR) and SR. No differences were observed between the average air temperatures (T) and relative humidity (RH) of covered environments (BPF and BSS) and outside condition (automatic weather station-AWS), due to high air circulation, despite wind speed (WS) reduction caused by plastic covers. BPF provided better conditions for vineyard growth with higher fruit yield than vineyard under BSS regarding the number of shoots with bunches per plant, bunch and stem weights, longitudinal diameter of berries, quantity of fertile buds per shoot, and yield per shoot and per plant. BPF covers also influenced leaf size and growth speed of plants in vineyards.

Reduction of Evapotranspiration in Microenvironment Conditions of Table Grape Vineyards Protected by Different Types of Plastic Covers

“…Overall, the plastic sheets reduced ET 0 between 27% (cover S in June) and 35% (cover C in July) in the first year and between 30% (cover S in June) and 38% (Cover C in June and July) in the second year. The range of these values is similar to that found by Cardoso et al (2008) [25]. Therefore, plastic sheet coverings can give a significant contribution to the reduction of the atmospheric evaporative demand and, therefore, to the use of the water resource required by the table grape vineyard.…”

“…The radiometric properties of plastic screens exert a paramount influence on the microenvironment inside the structure, thus they affect evapotranspiration. Many studies refer to the influence of plastic cover on vineyard microclimate, vine physiology and grape quality [20][21][22][23][24][25][26], while a limited number of studies are focused on the effects of plastic coverings on evapotranspiration of table grape vineyards [9,[27][28][29] and, moreover, no one considers possible effects of sheets having different radiometric properties. The first aim of the present work was to estimate, in the environmental conditions of south Italy, the reference evapotranspiration that occurs during the warmest summer months under plastic sheets that cover table grape vineyards, in comparison with an open field.…”

Yield and quality of grapes cultivated under plastic coverings with different downy mildew control strategies

“…This level of rainfall is not common in the region during this period and, consequently, this could be considered an atypical year (Table ). In 2014, rain fell with lower intensity and frequency (Holcman, Sentelhas, Conceição, & Couto, ).…”

Table-Grape Cultivation in Soil-Less Systems: A Review

“…Additionally, at a given location, the prominent role exerted by plastic cover characteristics on the vine eco-physiological response should be carefully evaluated since, as revealed by covered conventional systems' experiment results, it can affect the leaf area and growth rate, the percentage of fertile buds per shoot, the number of bunches per shoot, and ultimately yields [93]. Furthermore, both the advance of berry ripening and the bunch and berry mass, are also affected, as demonstrated by Novello et al [94], who showed the better performance of 'Matilde' grapes grown under LDPE (low density polyethylene) and EVA, compared with LDPE and HDPE (high density) plastic sheet covering.…”