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Management zones delineation using fuzzy clustering techniques in grapevines

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Abstract

Precision viticulture aims at managing vineyards at a sub-field scale according to the real needs of each part of the field. The current study focused on delineating management zones using fuzzy clustering techniques and developing a simplified approach for the comparison of zone maps. The study was carried out in a 1.0 ha commercial vineyard in Central Greece during 2009 and 2010. Variation of soil properties across the field was initially measured by means of electrical conductivity, soil depth and topography. To estimate grapevine canopy properties, NDVI was measured at different stages during the vine growth cycle. Yield and grape composition (must sugar content and total acidity) mapping was carried out at harvest. Soil properties, yield and grape composition parameters showed high spatial variability. All measured data were transformed on a 48-cell grid (10 × 20 m) and maps of two management zones were produced using the MZA software. Pixel-by-pixel comparison between maps of electrical conductivity, elevation, slope, soil depth and NDVI with yield and grape composition maps, set as reference parameters, allowed for the calculation of the degree of agreement, i.e. the percentage of pixels belonging to the same zone. The degree of agreement was used to select the best-suited parameters for final management zones delineation. For the year 2009 soil depth, early and mid season NDVI were used for yield-based management zones while for quality-based management zones ECa, early and mid season NDVI were utilized. For the year 2010 ECa, elevation and NDVI acquired during flowering and veraison were used for the delineation of yield-based management zones while for quality-based management zones ECa and NDVI acquired during flowering and harvest were utilized. Results presented here could be the basis for simple management zone delineation and subsequent improved vineyard management.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by the European Union FP7 Project SIRRIMED “Sustainable use of irrigation water in the Mediterranean Region”. Grant agreement No.: 245159. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Demitrios Timblalexis, grape grower, for supporting the research and managing the experimental vineyard. The authors would like to express our gratitude to the anonymous reviewers and especially the editor for substantially improving the initially submitted manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Farm Mechanization, Crop Production and Rural Environment, Department of Agriculture, University of Thessaly, Fytoko Str., 38446, N. Ionia, Magnesia, Greece

    A. Tagarakis, V. Liakos, S. Fountas & T. A. Gemtos

  2. Centre for Research and Technology-Thessaly (CE.RE.TE.TH), Technology Park of Thessaly 1st Industrial Area, 38500, Vólos, Greece

    A. Tagarakis

  3. Laboratory of Viticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloníki, Greece

    S. Koundouras

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  1. A. Tagarakis
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  2. V. Liakos
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Correspondence to A. Tagarakis.

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Tagarakis, A., Liakos, V., Fountas, S. et al. Management zones delineation using fuzzy clustering techniques in grapevines. Precision Agric 14, 18–39 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-012-9275-4

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