Within-vineyard variability in grape quality and yield and its relationship to the vineyard environment

Abstract

The pattern of spatial variation in several key productivity variables, vine characteristics and environmental parameters, was identified in a vineyard block in the Yarra Valley region of Victoria. The 3.4 ha block was characterised by changes in both elevation and aspect. Yield was measured using a harvester mounted yield monitor and quality assessments were made on 90 samples taken on a 15 m grid. An EM38 survey was done to assess overall soil variability while microclimate and soil temperature were measured using a network of micro loggers in the vineyard. Surface soil moisture (SSM) surveys were done regularly using a volumetric water content sensor at each of the sample locations. It wa..