A Device Enabling Fully Automated Water-Deficit Experiments with Potted Grapevines

作者：Poni Stefano^*; Galbignani Marco; Bernizzoni Fabio; Inmaculada Talaverano Maria; Magnanini Eugenio

来源：American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 2015, 66(2): 251-255.

DOI：10.5344/ajev.2014.14109

• chamber system
• water supply
• transpiration
• potted vines

Here, we describe a novel device for programming and replenishing water transpired by potted plants. To test the robustness of the system, vines were subjected to progressive water stress (WS), the severity of which was maintained in relation to transpiration (T-c) of well-watered (WW) plants. Throughout the 40-day experiment, water supply in the WS treatment was progressively lowered to 70, 50, and 30% of WW T-c prior to rewatering. During the same stages, mean T-c of WS plants was 74, 48, 28, and 93% that of WW plants. Linear relationships between vine transpiration and water supply during the 40-day experiment (R-2 = 0.95 for WW and 0.94 for WS) confirmed the reliability of the system in providing a water supply that closely tracked measured transpiration. The emptying volume of the cylinder tank was set at 265 mL and proved to be adequate for daily water losses, which ranged from similar to 300 to 2300 mL. In addition to relieving operators of laborious and time-consuming manual irrigation, the system provides the ability to adjust water supply to actual water use as measured concurrently in a grapevine-enclosure system and enables customization of the water supply according to the size and transpiration potential of each vine.

• 出版日期2015-5