Partial rootzone drying

This is a special form of artificial irrigation of vineyards (i.e. "partial root desiccation"). Also known as "reciprocal irrigation", this method was developed for viticulture by the Australian University of Adelaide and the CSIRO research institute from the mid-1990s onwards. Based on the fact that water stress has or can have a limited positive effect on wine quality, tests were carried out on vines. The root system was divided and one half was dried out. The treated half then produced the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) on a larger scale, which led to a (desired) reduced growth of the shoots.

In order to confirm the test result, two drip irrigation lines were installed per vine row in a vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon in a large-scale trial, which were used alternately. The other part of the vine root system was dried out in each case. The procedure resulted in a constant yield and improved the quality of the red wine. A similar form is Regulated deficit irrigation, in which the vines are subjected to greater water stress than with partial root zone drying. This method is very often used for red wine grapes during the decisive phase of fruit development between fruit set and véraison. The undersupply of water results in smaller and thus more extract-rich, qualitatively better berries.

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Roman Horvath MW
Domäne Wachau (Wachau)

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Partial rootzone drying

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