Fisiologia e viticoltura di precisione basata su dati da Remote Sensing: quale grado di parentela?

Translated title of the contribution: [Autom. eng. transl.] Physiology and precision viticulture based on data from Remote Sensing: what degree of kinship?

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

[Autom. eng. transl.] In this last decade, the study of the vegetative-productive "variability" existing in the vineyard has taken on highly innovative and, in some respects, disruptive connotations thanks to the techniques of "precision agriculture" based on the acquisition of aerial images (from satellite or from radio-controlled aircraft) which, after having been subjected to ortho-rectification and re-sampling procedures, return maps of vigor which, in turn, present a segmentation in "force classes" (usually from 2 to 10) defined by the index NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). The purpose of this review is twofold; in the first place to critically evaluate the extent to which classical and well-established notions of physiology can interface with the techniques of precision viticulture (VT) and, secondly, to evaluate the physiological value of cultivation techniques with "variable rates" also daughters of VT approach. The work discusses the degree of correlation between NDVI values and parameters of vigor and functionality of the crown by warning against a general use of appealing vigor indices since it is easy to detect (eg pruning weight) and, above all, from physiological meaning of the adjective "high vigor" which, depending on the conditions of the site in which one operates, can actually correspond to a vigor that is actually objectively modest. The second line of work is dedicated to the relationships between physiology and intervention technologies based on the intelligent principle of "variable accrual" (RV), that is the input in the input system in a variable quantity and therefore "customized" according to the needs highlighted by the force maps. The operations at variable rate taken into consideration are fertilization, defoliation and harvesting and, especially for the first two, the need is signaled, where we want to make a correct comparison between "accrual" and "traditional" to prepare experimental plans that are not limit to assessing how the vigor changes from one season to the next following an “accrual” intervention but to provide, in addition to the RV theses, the presence, contextually, of “control” theses that could be constituted by a fertilizer dose 0 and / or fixed dose. Moreover, when the doses of fertilizer to be returned according to the level of vigor highlighted by the map are identified, it is necessary not to forget some robust concepts of applied physiology that have ascertained a strong variability in the need for nitrogen depending on the phenological phase and a decrease in yield and quality of the grapes for dosages that are configured as "luxury consumption". Of great charm are the precision applications applied to mechanical harvesting which present two solutions of particular interest: single harvest with separation in different buckets of the product coming from the low and high vigor classes or harvest in two stages (first mature product and then more immature quota). Both solutions are valuable tools to try to stem the increasingly frequent phenomenon of too fast and anticipated maturation that sees in the timeliness and selectivity of the collection essential elements of adaptation. Finally, our investigation analyzes the crucial problem of the best spatial resolution (pixel size generated by the image) as a function of the most effective characterization of the vegetative-productive behavior of the strains. Through a series of numerical examples of real sensors with different resolution (minimum 0.2 m, maximum 20 m) it is concluded that the best correlation between the average of the samples on the ground (calculated on the number of strains falling in the area identified by the pixel ) and the vegetation index calculated from the image is between 2 and 5 m.
Translated title of the contribution[Autom. eng. transl.] Physiology and precision viticulture based on data from Remote Sensing: what degree of kinship?
Original languageItalian
Pages (from-to)15-30
Number of pages16
JournalItalus Hortus
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • concimazione
  • defogliazione
  • mappe di vigore
  • rateo variabile
  • superficie fogliare

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