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Interactions Between Leaf Area Dynamics and Vineyard Performance, Environment, and Viticultural Practices

Author

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  • Yishai Netzer

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, Israel
    Department of Agriculture and Oenology, Eastern R&D Center, Ariel 4070000, Israel)

  • Noa Ohana-Levi

    (Independent Researcher, Variability, Kfar Vradim 2514700, Israel)

Abstract

The Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a key physiological metric in viticulture, associated with vine health, yield, and responsiveness to environmental and management factors. This study, conducted in a Mediterranean Sauvignon Blanc vineyard (2017–2023), examines how irrigation and environmental variables affect LAI across phenological stages, and their impact on yield (clusters per vine, cluster weight, total yield) and pruning parameters (cane weight, pruning weight). Results show that irrigation is the primary driver of LAI, with increased water availability promoting leaf area expansion. Environmental factors, including temperature, vapor pressure deficits, and solar radiation, influence LAI dynamics, with chilling hours playing a crucial role post-veraison. Excessive LAI (>1.6–1.7) reduces yield due to competition between vegetative and reproductive sinks. Early-season LAI correlates more strongly with yield, while late-season LAI predicts pruning weight and cane growth. Machine learning models reveal that excessive pre-veraison LAI in one season reduces cluster numbers in the next. This study highlights LAI as a critical tool for vineyard management. While irrigation promotes vegetative growth, excessive LAI can hinder fruit set and yield, emphasizing the need for strategic irrigation timing, canopy management, and climate adaptation to sustain long-term vineyard productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Yishai Netzer & Noa Ohana-Levi, 2025. "Interactions Between Leaf Area Dynamics and Vineyard Performance, Environment, and Viticultural Practices," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:6:p:618-:d:1612410
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yishai Netzer & Yedidya Suued & Matanya Harel & Danielle Ferman-Mintz & Elyashiv Drori & Sarel Munitz & Maria Stanevsky & José M. Grünzweig & Aaron Fait & Noa Ohana-Levi & Gil Nir & Gil Harari, 2022. "Forever Young? Late Shoot Pruning Affects Phenological Development, Physiology, Yield and Wine Quality of Vitis vinifera cv. Malbec," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Ben-Asher, Jiftah & Tsuyuki, Itaru & Bravdo, Ben-Ami & Sagih, Moshe, 2006. "Irrigation of grapevines with saline water: I. Leaf area index, stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(1-2), pages 13-21, May.
    3. Ohana-Levi, Noa & Mintz, Danielle Ferman & Hagag, Nave & Stern, Yossi & Munitz, Sarel & Friedman-Levi, Yael & Shacham, Nir & Grünzweig, José M. & Netzer, Yishai, 2022. "Grapevine responses to site-specific spatiotemporal factors in a Mediterranean climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    4. Ohana-Levi, Noa & Munitz, Sarel & Ben-Gal, Alon & Netzer, Yishai, 2020. "Evaluation of within-season grapevine evapotranspiration patterns and drivers using generalized additive models," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    5. Wickham, Hadley, 2007. "Reshaping Data with the reshape Package," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 21(i12).
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