Controlling variability in vineyard with variable rate drip irrigation

Vineyards worldwide are spatially variable in in canopy size and growth rate, a feature which is exhibited in both low- and high- yielding areas. A variable rate drip irrigation (VRDI) system was developed and operated over 2 years out of a 4-year experiment in a red wine vineyard. During the first year of the experiment, the vineyard was irrigated by the farmer and exhibited high variability in both yield and canopy size. Following two years of the VRDI system operation, both canopy cover and yield were found to be homogeneous across the plot. At the 4^th year, the vineyard was irrigated once again by the farmer which resulted in variability patterns similar to the first-year patterns.