How precision irrigation helps
Precision irrigation delivers water and nutrients straight to the rootzone of each plant – not the soil. The result is that you’ll be able to increase your wine yield and quality. But crucially, you’d also reduce the amount of fertiliser, water and labour you need.
In order to gain optimal vine development, you need to control the level of water stress.
Known as Restricted Deficit Irrigation (RDI), this practice is designed to keep the vine under controlled water stress conditions, to increase wine grape quality. RDI allows grape growers to control the following elements:
- Berry size
- Vegetation and light regime
- Availability of assimilates, photosynthesis
- Turgor, solids concentration
Effective application of an RDI approach is contingent upon stringent and accurate irrigation control, possible only through use of advanced precision irrigation techniques. And if you use digital control systems, you can make it easier to monitor and optimise your yield as it’s growing, and gain data about every stage of the wine grape lifecycle.
Read more