Dendrometric Measurements and Water Potential Analysis on Sangiovese Grapevine

摘要

To avoid waste of water resources for crop irrigation is necessarily detect appropriate methods to estimate plants water demands, to obtain the best qualitative results with less water needs. Diametrical vessels reduction minimizes water flow and prevents loss of xilematic functionality by cavitation. This natural mechanism of plants to avoid embolism due to water stress can be measured by LVDT sensors (Linear Variable Displacement Transducer) or Dendrometers. For this purpose we planned a research to analyze the reliability of LVDT probes installed on Sangiovese vineyards, on non-irrigated samples. The aim of this research was to verify the effectiveness of LVTD sensors on monitoring trunk contractions and the output patterns before entering in water stress conditions. Dendrometers data were related with stem water potential, but the results of measures with LVDT sensors highlight the difficulty of practical use of dendrometers in viticulture, due in particular because to the architecture of the vineyards and to the size of the trunk. More studies have to be done to better identify parameters that anticipate water stress conditions.