Vineyard design supported by GPS application

The innovative technologies of precision agriculture nowadays offer new applications in line with the wine sector's needs. In hillside viticulture, within the same plot, there are areas with different physical and chemical characteristics (e.g. low-lying areas, pH, active limestone, nutrients, etc.). This variability consequently influences the vine's vigor, which translates in a different production per single plant in terms of grapes yield and quality. This study aimed to establish georeferenced thematic maps by GPS application on a hilly plot of about 6 ha to be planted in a hedgerow trained vineyard to produce quality grapes. The experimental trials were conducted in the Tenute Rapitalà vineyards located in Camporeale (province of Palermo, Italy). STONEX S5 GPS was used for georeferencing, with differential correction and sub-centimeter precision. Six thematic maps were created using GIS programs. The study allowed obtaining georeferenced thematic maps with different classes of altitude, exposure, slope, pH, electrical conductivity, active limestone, total carbon, and total nitrogen. The geo-referenced maps allowed defining row orientation and length according to the plot slope and exposure, thus reducing soil erosion to a minimum and maximizing both soil fertility and plant photosynthetic activity.