Summer is approaching, a time when our woody crops require efficient water management to maximise their yield. Anticipating their needs is no easy task, and scheduling watering at the right time and in the right way requires a thorough understanding of the plant species.
Historically, Spanish wine production has been characterised by a variety of irrigation strategies, and whether to apply or restrict water before and after veraison has always been a common topic of discussion amongst professionals, particularly those who devote themselves body and soul to grape production.
Although irrigation is synonymous with higher yields, it is important to bear in mind the current growth stage of our plot. The task of engineers, technicians and farmers is to identify the water requirements of crops during the stages when rainfall is insufficient. However, there is a critical point to reach during the cycle: veraison. It is in July and August that most wine grape varieties develop berries in various shades of red, blue, purple and yellow. The success of this stage depends on the correct management of drip irrigation during budbreak, flowering and fruit set.
A good option is to use a drip irrigation system fitted with a self-regulating dripper; this ensures uniform distribution of water and fertiliser during the stages leading up to the colour change in the vines. Furthermore, if the dripper has anti-drainage properties, such as Inbar, we can resolve the problems caused by pulsed irrigation systems, preventing the drainage of the branches once irrigation has been completed.
In Spain, vineyard plots, or terroirs, account for 13 per cent of the world’s vineyard area, which is why technical innovation and the digitalisation of production are key in a country that invests more than 150 million euros a year in R&D&I projects.
A good example of this R&D&I is our Rootguard technology, specially designed for subsurface irrigation (RGS), the only solution capable of preventing roots from entering the dripper. Products such as Assif Rootguard, with their anti-suction properties, are ideal for subsurface irrigation. A clear example that innovation and technology are here to stay.
We are shaping the future of irrigation together.
Water. People. Future.
