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Wine Australia unveils app for vine water stress
A “cheap and easy-to-use” smartphone app that helps grapegrowers measure the water status of their vines is being tested by wineries across Australia.
The new portal viticultural tool has the potential to help grapegrowers make improved water management decisions for the vineyards, said Wine Australia.
Grapegrowers will be able to use a thermal camera attached to their smartphone to take images of the canopy of the vine. The image is analysed by the app, which calculates the vine water status, according to the association.
The technology is being tested by 15 vineyards in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania for the rest of the growing season.
The 18-month project, funded by Wine Australia, is led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), a division of Primary Industries and Regions SA, in close collaboration with The University of New South Wales (UNSW).
“Water and associated pumping costs can be a significant component of the production costs for grapegrowers. Uncontrolled water stress has the potential to reduce the yield and quality of grapes and the resulting wine, which in turn reduces the return to growers,” said Dr Kathy Ophel-Keller, acting executive director of SARDI.
“The management of vine water status is a key tool for grapegrowers to regulate yield and optimise fruit quality and style.”
“This new app offers grapegrowers instant feedback on the water status of their vines, and provides them with the flexibility to assess multiple blocks or sections of blocks, and to make irrigation decisions in real time.”
Dr Liz Waters, general manager of Research, Development and Extension at Wine Australia, added: “This new app provides a portable solution to measure water status quickly and easily in the vineyard”.
“The app allows growers to make informed irrigation decisions that support the production of high-quality fruit grown to specification.”
The final version of the app is expected to be launched later this year.