Next steps in Precision Viticulture – Spatial data for improved design of vineyard (re)planting

Abstract

By convention, and in some cases statutory requirement, vineyard design in Australia has been primarily based on soil survey using pits located on a 75 m grid. Previous work has suggested that this approach may have some shortcomings. One reason for this is that vineyards have been shown to be highly variable with respect to vigour, yield and quality with this variation being attributed to variation in the soil and land underlying the vineyard. This project therefore sought to examine the opportunity for spatial data, especially at high resolution, to better inform vineyard design. Using an area of more than 80 ha at Taylor’s Wines in the Clare Valley for our study site, we used analysis of past yield maps and remotely sensed imagery along with EM38 soil survey and elevation modelling to inform a vineyard replanting project. We also used spatial analysis to try to extract useful information from the 75 m grid data additional to that provided in the conventional vineyard soil map format. Whilst the merits of our approach need evaluation at some point in the future once the new vineyard has reached maturity, our work indicates that the use of spatial data and its analysis can provide a much improved basis for vineyard design compared to conventional approaches.

Summary

By convention, and in some cases statutory requirement, vineyard design in Australia has been primarily based on soil survey using pits located on a 75 m grid. Previous work has suggested that this approach may have some shortcomings. One reason for this is that vineyards have been shown to be highly variable with respect to vigour, yield and quality with this variation being attributed to variation in the soil and land underlying the vineyard. This project therefore sought to examine the opportunity for spatial data, especially at high resolution, to better inform vineyard design. Using an area of more than 80 ha at Taylor’s Wines in the Clare Valley for our study site, we used analysis of past yield maps and remotely sensed imagery along with EM38 soil survey and elevation modelling to inform a vineyard replanting project. We also used spatial analysis to try to extract useful information from the 75 m grid data additional to that provided in the conventional vineyard soil map format. Whilst the merits of our approach need evaluation at some point in the future once the new vineyard has reached maturity, our work indicates that the use of spatial data and its analysis can provide a much improved basis for vineyard design compared to conventional approaches.