RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Long-Term Effects of Mechanical Winter Pruning on Growth, Yield, and Grape Composition of Barbera Grapevines
JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
JO Am. J. Enol. Vitic.
FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture
SP ajev.2011.10101
DO 10.5344/ajev.2011.10101
A1 Matteo Gatti
A1 Silvia Civardi
A1 Fabio Bernizzoni
A1 Stefano Poni
YR 2011
UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2011/03/08/ajev.2011.10101.abstract
AB Vine performance was tested over five years (2005–2009) on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Barbera either manually spur pruned (HP) or mechanically hedged with light (SMP-LF) or severe (SMP-SF) hand follow-up. Despite the fact that mechanical treatments retained 2- to 2.5-fold higher count nodes/vine than did HP, yield per vine (≈5 kg) was almost identical between treatments due to the strong offsetting effect of reduced bud break; weak and no compensation were seen for cluster weight and bud fruitfulness, respectively. Except for a slight reduction in anthocyanin concentration, overall grape composition was similar between treatments throughout the trial. As minor differences in vine vigor and capacity were found and the leaf-to-fruit ratio (vine basis) was unaffected by treatments, the slightly lower anthocyanin berry content in the SMP vines may have derived from increased shoot density and, hence, more shade cast in the fruiting area. Winter pruning was performed in less than 25 h/ha in the hedged vines, thereby cutting labor demand from 54 to 70% as compared to HP. Thus, with all other vineyard operations being mechanised as well, a single high-wire Barbera vineyard managed to maintain a mostly erect canopy can be run in less than 70 worker hours/ha. Such a performance, coupled with overall unchanged yield and grape composition, represents a solid and reliable approach in a scenario of a wine market demanding greater efficiency and competitiveness.