Identifier: TFG:9308
Authors: Cendrós Sorlí, Jordi
Abstract:
Manual green pruning is a traditional vineyard operation that has gradually lost importance among the set of practices applied to grapevines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of green pruning on a range of parameters classically associated with this practice, and to evaluate whether the decision by some winegrowers to abandon it is justified in the context of modern viticulture and oenology. Over a period of eight months (June 2024-January 2025), periodic measurements were carried out on vines of Macabeu variety under three canopy management treatments: no canopy management (CNT), moderate canopy management (EP), and intensive canopy management (ET). No significant differences were found in growth and vegetative vigour measurements; however, differences were observed in the number of shoots and clusters remaining after thinning. The penetration of phytosanitary products also improved in the vines that had undergone green pruning, and the ripening kinetics progressed more rapidly in those plants. Green pruning had no significant impact on the flavonol index measured in the leaves, but it did result in significant changes in chlorophyll concentration and, consequently, in the NBI index. No significant differences were found in the diameter of the shoots or in pruning waste weight during winter pruning, although differences were observed in the number of cuts required. Overall, green pruning appears to provide certain advantages compared to not performing it, although no significant results were obtained regarding whether it is better to perform it more or less aggressively. Given the limited duration of the study, the observed trends cannot be conclusively attributed to shoot thinning, and a longer experimental period would be necessary to confirm the findings.
Repositori URV