The influence of soil management systems of the interval between vine rows on the penetration resistance of soils from Cotnari vineyard

Abstract

Soil is not only the physical support but also the main reserve of nutrients and water for the vines, which, together with meteorological factors and the level of agricultural techniques used, determine the quantity and quality of grape production. Vineyard mechanisation technology is the totality of all production processes, agricultural works, and operations carried out in a certain sequence, in optimal conditions and in compliance with agricultural technical requirements. The volume of work and the order in which it is carried out constitute the tillage system. The tillage systems used in vine plantations influence the physico-mechanical properties of the soil by using different systems of machinery and equipment during the course of a vineyard year. The studies were carried out on the western slope of Bejeneasa Farm, Cotnari Vineyard, in the Moldavian Hills Wine Region. The studied area is 0.31 ha. It is located in the upper part of the slope with a western exposure, and the slope of the land is <5%. The altitude is 170 m, and the mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature values are 508.9 mm and 10.9℃, respectively. In order to highlight the effects of tillage systems in the plot cultivated with vines on the land with 8% slope and western exposure, three tillage systems were practised: a tillage system with a tiller, a tillage system with ridging, and a tillage system with a cultivator. For each tillage system, determinations were made on both the tractor wheel tracks and the mechanical spacing between the vine rows. Penetration resistance was determined using a penetrologger to a depth of 80 cm. The analytical data obtained showed that the penetration resistance of soils was influenced by the tillage system used. The range of variation of the values of penetration resistance for the wheel tracks of agricultural equipment was higher compared to those recorded on the vine rows.