Cover cropping in a slopping non-irrigated vineyard:II - effects on vegetative growth, yield, berry and wine quality of "cabernet sauvignon" grapevines

 

C.M. Lopes*, A. Monteiro, J.P. Machado, N. Fernandes, A. Araújo

 

* Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal. E-mail: carlosmlopes@isa.utl.pt, Tel.: 351-213653450. Fax: 351-213 623262.

(Manuscrito recebido em 29.02.08. Aceite para publicação em 23.06.08)

 

 

SUMMARY

Grapevine vegetative growth, yield, fruit composition and wine quality were studied in the Estremadura Winegrowing Region of Portugal in a ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ slopping non-irrigated vineyard. During three seasons three treatments were compared: soil tillage (control), permanent resident vegetation, and permanent sown cover crop. When compared to soil tillage, the inter-row sward treatments displayed a lower predawn leaf water potential from bloom to mid-ripening. These differences in vine water status did not affect vine yield or berry sugar accumulation; however, in the third season after experiment setup it induced a significant reduction in vegetative growth in the sward treatments, compared to soil tillage. This vegetative growth reduction had a positive effect on grape composition by reducing titratable acidity and increasing berry skin total phenols and anthocyanins. Those differences were also detected in the wines by the judges who gave a better classification to the wines from the sward treatments. Our results indicate that cover cropping can be a valuable tool for controlling vigour and enhancing wine quality in this winegrowing region.

Keywords: grapevine, cover crops, growth, yield, quality.

 

RESUMO

Enrelvamento em vinha de encosta não regada: II - efeitos no crescimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade do mosto e vinho, casta "cabernet sauvignon"

Numa vinha da casta ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ instalada na região da Estremadura – Alenquer - estudou-se o efeito do enrelvamento da entrelinha no crescimento vegetativo, rendimento e qualidade da uva e do vinho. Durante três anos compararam-se três tratamentos alternativos: mobilização da entrelinha (testemunha), relvado natural e relvado semeado. Comparativamente à modalidade mobilizada as videiras das modalidades relvadas apresentaram um potencial de base mais baixo durante o período floração–meia maturação. Estas diferenças no estado hídrico da videira não afectaram o rendimento nem a acumulação de açúcar nos bagos no entanto, no terceiro ano de ensaios, provocaram uma redução significativa no crescimento vegetativo das videiras das modalidades relvadas, comparativamente à modalidade mobilizada. Esta redução do crescimento vegetativo induziu um efeito positivo na composição da uva através da redução da acidez total e do aumento da concentração de antocianas e fenóis nas películas do bago. Estas diferenças foram também detectadas na análise sensorial do vinho, na qual os provadores atribuíram uma melhor classificação aos vinhos das modalidades relvadas. Os nossos resultados indicam que, neste “terroir”, o enrelvamento da vinha é uma técnica cultural recomendável pois permite controlar o vigor e, indirectamente, melhorar a qualidade da uva.

Palavras Chave: videira, enrelvamento, crescimento, rendimento, qualidade.

 

 

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