Aid for Innovation Cooperation. Operation 16.01.01 of the RDP of Catalonia 2014-2020
BACKGROUND
The project aimed to analyse and validate an effective and reliable vineyard management system to reduce phytosanitary treatments used in Catalan vineyards, and to steer the sector towards ecological and sustainable agriculture through the Downy and Powdery Mildew Remote Sensing System (Sistemio). This system is intended to improve vineyard planning and management and reduce the number of treatments applied.
The main objective was to validate a vineyard treatment management system based on the collection of agro-environmental data at plot level and its analysis using mechanistic epidemiological models.
This tool should enable growers to monitor the epidemiological status of their plots in real time and to apply preventive treatments at the optimal moment, in order to maximise effectiveness and reduce the amount of phytosanitary products used during the growing season.
A total of 18 telemetry stations equipped with temperature, humidity, rainfall, and leaf wetness sensors were installed, sending hourly data for two years. The data was processed through the decision-support system Vite.net, which was configured using the specific characteristics of each plot (grape variety, soil type, etc.). Based on this, optimal application thresholds were determined, infection predictions were made, and results were compared to actual cases.
The project was carried out under the planned conditions, enabling an evaluation of the Vite.net system’s performance, especially for downy mildew. In the case of powdery mildew, the evaluation is more complex due to its permanent presence, but forecasts of disease pressure intensity were useful for overall vineyard health management.
The structure and interface of the system were highly rated. It includes real data and weather forecasts to model fungal development, reproduction, and spread. The information is presented in well-structured blocks:
Fungal development (particularly infectious phases)
Treatment conditions (biocidal activity depending on active substance)
Treatment records
Meteorological data (historical, current, and forecast)
Observatory map with graphic alerts of risk periods
The system also allows for user input, facilitating decision-making. For downy mildew, it predicts infection-prone periods based on available data and indicates the intensity of infection risk. After a risk period, the system confirms or discards the actual occurrence of infection.
While most predictions were accurate, some errors occurred due to variability in fungal behaviour and influencing factors, which at times challenge the model's assumptions. Overall, Vite.net proved to be an effective and useful tool for downy mildew management, though its use requires complementary field-based technical evaluation.
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