EXPECTED RESULTS

To achieve the objective of the Action Plan, the pilot vineyards have been registered on the NITREOS electronic platform. The characteristics of the vineyards such as the pilot area, the selected variety, the cultivation technique and the management of the final product are determined in collaboration with the producers’ groups.

Progress: 30%

Addressing the problem

Light, unmanned aircraft (drones) will be used to capture very high spectral resolution images. The Operational Plan is implemented by a project team that includes collective wine production schemes and scientific staff. All the information and data registered (exploitation characteristics, cultivation practices, etc.) and collected (e.g. meteorological data) by the NITREOS platform are analyzed and processed by the scientific potential of the project team.

The available services are::

  • monitoring the growth of the stems,
  • estimation of soil moisture and irrigation dose,
  • alerts for favorable conditions for the growth of pests and diseases,
  • surface nitrogen fertilization required,
  • management zoning and
  • performance appraisal.

The definition of management zones is proportional to the size and variability of the vineyard. It is a combination of parameters such as altitude, slope, physical properties, soil moisture and vegetation vitality, with the aim of differentiated management of irrigation, fertilization and crop protection. The main objective of Precision Viticulture is to ensure that management zones reflect differences in vineyard fertility in order to more effectively monitor ripening and estimate production.

Expected results

The NITREOS information system has already been developed and will be fully operational during the pilot. The expected results from using the NITREOS services are:

  • Designation of management zones to increase the efficiency of pesticide and fertilizer application,
  • Determining the appropriate time to apply crop protection products, as derived from the analysis of the meteorological forecast for favorable conditions for the development of pests and diseases,
  • Irrigation planning with calculation of actual water needs and the application of adjustable water stress depending on the variety,
  • The reduction of water use and the cost of fuel and chemical preparations,
  • The correct estimation of the ripening season and the differentiated treatment of the production for products of different typologies and the production of higher priced wines.

All of the above will have as a final result the adaptation of crops to climate change while ensuring the producer’s income. At the same time, a reduction in production costs will be achieved.