Soil Surface Management and Water Regime of Vineyards

The study examines the impact of soil surface management on vineyard water regimes in Mediterranean climates with high inter-annual rainfall variability. Using a simulation-based design, it compares continuous management strategies, such as permanent tillage or cover cropping, with adaptive approaches that adjust the type, timing, and frequency of interventions based on climatic conditions. Results show that adaptive strategies can stabilize both agronomic outputs—yield and grape quality—and environmental outcomes, notably by reducing runoff, across contrasting years. The paper highlights the need to account for winter water recharge and soil depth, demonstrating that flexible soil maintenance enhances water use efficiency and performance stability in vineyards.