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Elimination of Spatial Variability Using Variable Rate Drip Irrigation (VRDI) in Vineyards
I. Nadav
Netafim, R&D Center, Derech Hashalom 10, Tel Aviv, Israel

Vineyards worldwide are subjected to spatial variability, which can be exhibited in both low and high yield areas meaning that the vineyard is not achieving his full yield potential. In addition, the grapes quality is not uniformed leading to different wine qualities from the same plot. The assumption is that a variability in available water for the plant due to soil variability leads to the observed yield variability. A variable rate drip irrigation (VRDI) concept was developed to reduce such variability. The VRDI system divides the vineyard into 30 x 30-meter irrigation zones, enabling individual irrigation of each zone according to a model based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps. Before the VRDI installation, the natural variability of the plot was recorded by measuring LAI, SWP, and yield in a 1.2-hectare vineyard Syrah red grape in Israel during 2014. The first VDRI system was installed on the plot and operated in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The VRDI system enabled to apply more water to areas were the vines vigor was low, and less water to vines with high vigor during 2014.  Following the operation of VRDI system, the yield, leaf area index (LAI), canopy size, water potential, and primary juice chemical analysis results were very uniformed across the plot in comparison to previous years with applying uniform irrigation across the vineyard.

Keyword: NDVI, drip irrigation, spatial variability, yield, stem water potential