Handbook for Irrigation of Wine Grapes in South Africa

Chapter 4

best system efficiency, and is by far the preferred method for the irrigation of wine grape vineyards. In traditionally flood irrigated areas, full surface irrigation can be converted to furrow irrigation to improve water use efficiency. Flood irrigation can also be applied in alternating rows in order to save water. Since drip irrigation or furrows only wet a fraction of the soil volume, it needs to be managed accordingly to ensure that the grapevines’ water requirements are met. Maintenance of all irrigation systems is essential to ensure efficient functioning, and to lengthen their lifespan. Although grapevines cannot distinguish between irrigation systems, they will surely show when water deficits resulting from malfunctioning or poor maintenance occurs. Due to the high risk of clogging, and the fact that they do not seem to improve water use efficiency, subsurface irrigation systems cannot be recommended for vineyard irrigation.

IRRIGATION OF WINE GRAPES 101