Abstract
A study was conducted in a Chardonnay vineyard located in the Carneros district of Napa Valley to derive vineyard evapotranspiration (ETc) and seasonal crop coefficients (Kc) values. The vineyard was planted on 2.13 m rows, using a vertical shoot-positioned trellis. Vineyard ETc was measured using the soil water balance method. Soil water content (SWC) was measured in one-fourth of an individual vine’s soil profile (six access tubes per site) to a depth of 2.75 m. In addition, vines were irrigated with applied water amounts at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 of estimated vineyard ETc. Vineyard ETc the first year of the study was ~400 mm. Thereafter calculated vineyard ETc (the product of reference ET [ETo] and the Kc) ranged from 346 to 503 mm per season. Midday leaf water potential (Ψl), leaf net CO2 assimilation rate (A), and stomatal conductance (gs) were used to indirectly validate estimated ETc (to determine that vines were not stressed for water) and the derived Kc values. Midday Ψl, A, and gs were linearly related with applied water amounts and SWC across irrigation treatments and years. The diurnal measurements of A and gs resulted in differences among irrigation treatments, from early morning until late afternoon, with significant differences among treatments dependent upon actual applied water amounts. The results from this study are the first in which vineyard ETc has been measured on vines grown at a cool vineyard site in California. Estimates of ETc from this study would be valid for a vineyard with a row spacing of 2.13 m and a canopy vertically positioned using a maximum Kc of 0.74.
- ©2014 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture
Sign in for ASEV members
ASEV Members, please sign in at ASEV to access the journal online.
Sign in for Institutional and Non-member Subscribers
Log in using your username and password
Pay Per Article - You may access this article (from the computer you are currently using) for 2 day for US$10.00
Regain Access - You can regain access to a recent Pay per Article purchase if your access period has not yet expired.