WINETECH Technical Yearbook 2021

PRACTICAL IN THE VINEYARD | OCTOBER 2021

Implementation of precision farming principles in determining maintenance applications in the SA wine industry

JOHAN DE JAGER: Vinpro, Paarl KEYWORDS: Precision farming, soil preparation, ameliorants, fertiliser.

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) defines precision farming as a management strategy that gathers, processes and analyses temporal, spatial and individual data, and combines it with a combination of other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability in agriculture (ISPA, 2018). Timely application of the correct amount of inputs (right time and right amount) is a prerequisite to optimise profitability and sustainability. Moreover, it helps to manage natural resources according

to an ecologically favourable approach, and this also contributes to improved environmental sustainability. Pressure from organised environmental groups, especially in Europe, has resulted in both the global agriculture sector and the South African wine industry displaying a greater environmental awareness (Rüsch, 2001). Through the application of precision farm- ing principles and data-based management practices, the yield, quality and vigour gap can be limited to a minimum. Precision farming involves a holistic approach to the optimisation of vineyard productivity, or the alignment of wine objectives with op- timal vineyard balance. This is done with

the help of satellite-based and information technology, selective parts within blocks are thus evaluated and managed using data. What makes the application of these principles in the wine industry unique, or differentiates it from the grain industry for example, is that producers do not necessarily pursue yields in all cases, but rather that we want to optimise growing conditions to align the ideal vigour with

specific wine objectives. Note however that within the context of this article, only a small aspect of precision farming principles will be focused on, namely how maintenance applications can be set up and recommended for existing vineyard blocks with the help of GIS, GPS and a terrain-specific focus. These maintenance applications include the application of lime (dolomite or calcite), phosphate and potassium, with a variety of spreaders

WINETECH TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2021 | 139