MANSO: Soil and Vineyard Management for Drought Control: Techniques, Methodologies and Standardisation

Manso is a project formed by INNOVI as group coordinator, Llopart as leader, Bodegas Sumarroca, Masia Vallformosa, Bodega Kripta and Juvé&Camps, as beneficiary companies, and with INCAVI, IRTA and the URV as research centres.

The MANSO project (Soil and vine management to combat drought) addresses the challenges of climate change in rainfed viticulture, especially in the Penedès. The main objective is to deepen the knowledge of soil, water and vegetation management strategies for the best use of water resources in rainfed vineyards and to evaluate their effect with soil and physiological measures, but also using a series of new technologies based on soil/plant sensors and remote sensing.

Specifically, the MANSO project aims to provide answers to the following questions:

• How to make better use of rainwater?
• How to reduce, if not avoid, evaporation losses during the summer period?
• If it does not rain, how can the vineyard be managed to ensure its survival?
• If small quantities of water are available in reservoirs, when and how much water should we provide?

So that practical and transferable solutions can be offered to ensure the sustainability of wine production in an increasingly challenging climatic context.

The main objective of the project is to deepen the knowledge of soil, water and vegetation management strategies for the best use of rainfed water resources and to assess their effect with soil, physiological measures, but also using a range of new technologies based on soil/plant sensors and remote sensing. Secondary objectives are:

• Establish a digital network to monitor the factors affecting water availability:
  • Weather conditions
  • Soil water content
  • Plant water status
• To implement remote sensing technologies as a method for spatial assessment of water stress in rainfed vineyards.

Action of the PAC Strategic Plan 2023-2027 co-financed by: