Associations between lithology and land-use in a wine production region (Bairrada region, Portugal)

摘要

In this work, we analyze the spatial relationships between land-use and lithology in the wine production region of Bairrada (Portugal) and present a new lithological map (1:50,000) created for the region, highlighting the associations with specific types of land-use. The study was focused on the area of Bairrada that establishes the appellation DOC-VQPRD wines. The region shows a heterogeneous lithology and land-use and it is found that these two variables are not independent. Three different zones with characteristic land-use and geology can be distinguished in Bairrada: a western zone where aeolian sand deposits are associated with coniferous forests; an eastern zone with Precambrian and Paleozoic metasedimentary units associated with broad leaf forests; and a central zone with diversified Mesozoic and Cenozoic units in which most vineyards are placed. There is a clear association between a Jurassic marly and dolomitic unit and an occupation by vineyards, which is particularly obvious when larger vineyards are considered. The vineyards are also common when these Jurassic units are covered by relatively thin siliciclastic sediments.