Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors

Vineyard decline is one of the main challenges viticulture now faces, especially in the current context of climate change. While decline is often attributed to grapevine trunk diseases and climate change, it also involves a myriad of other interconnected factors, including agricultural practices, w...

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Main Authors: Anne MEROT, Marie Thiollet-Scholtus, Marc Sladeczek, Laure Hossard, Nathalie Smits
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Viticulture and Enology Society 2025-02-01
Series:OENO One
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Online Access:https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/8285
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author Anne MEROT
Marie Thiollet-Scholtus
Marc Sladeczek
Laure Hossard
Nathalie Smits
author_facet Anne MEROT
Marie Thiollet-Scholtus
Marc Sladeczek
Laure Hossard
Nathalie Smits
author_sort Anne MEROT
collection DOAJ
description Vineyard decline is one of the main challenges viticulture now faces, especially in the current context of climate change. While decline is often attributed to grapevine trunk diseases and climate change, it also involves a myriad of other interconnected factors, including agricultural practices, whose role in decline remains unclear. This study explored for the first time how various planting conditions and agricultural practices implemented over an extended period of time affect the intensity and dynamics of decline. We analysed a large dataset obtained from 107 plots in the Cognac wine-growing region in western France from 1988 to 2018. The dataset included data on soil and climate conditions, genetic material at planting, annual agricultural practices, and information on annual mortality and yield. This study comprised six steps: dataset building, characterisation of decline categories, selection of explanatory variables to be studied, creation of plot trajectories based on agricultural practices, linking of decline categories and plot trajectories, and analysis of plot characteristics and practices. Using data from 43 plots and 58 variables, we showed that vineyard plots can be classified into three stages of decline depending on the dynamics and intensity of mortality and yield dynamics. We then established 11 trajectories over the plot lifespans (16 to 30 years). A detailed analysis of these trajectories revealed that plots associated with certain trajectories were more subject to decline, which helped us identify strategies that could limit or even prevent decline. We concluded that preventing decline requires adopting an integrated approach from planting to grubbing up, finding the right match between genetic material and soil–climate conditions, ensuring optimal water management, and managing potentially competing vegetation, like cover cropping. By identifying key practices over the vineyard lifespan, this study opens up new avenues for preventing decline by putting the focus on vigour management, water and mineral status of the plant.
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spelling doaj-art-89d3c49e765e4a34aba414a703c27c2d2025-08-20T02:15:47ZengInternational Viticulture and Enology SocietyOENO One2494-12712025-02-0159110.20870/oeno-one.2025.59.1.8285Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factorsAnne MEROT0Marie Thiollet-Scholtus1Marc Sladeczek2Laure Hossard3Nathalie Smits4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6340-721XUMR ABSys – INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IAMM – Montpellier, FranceUMR LAE – INRAE, Université de Lorraine – Colmar, FranceUMR ABSys – INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IAMM – Montpellier, France INNOVATION, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro – Montpellier, FranceUMR ABSys – INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IAMM – Montpellier, France Vineyard decline is one of the main challenges viticulture now faces, especially in the current context of climate change. While decline is often attributed to grapevine trunk diseases and climate change, it also involves a myriad of other interconnected factors, including agricultural practices, whose role in decline remains unclear. This study explored for the first time how various planting conditions and agricultural practices implemented over an extended period of time affect the intensity and dynamics of decline. We analysed a large dataset obtained from 107 plots in the Cognac wine-growing region in western France from 1988 to 2018. The dataset included data on soil and climate conditions, genetic material at planting, annual agricultural practices, and information on annual mortality and yield. This study comprised six steps: dataset building, characterisation of decline categories, selection of explanatory variables to be studied, creation of plot trajectories based on agricultural practices, linking of decline categories and plot trajectories, and analysis of plot characteristics and practices. Using data from 43 plots and 58 variables, we showed that vineyard plots can be classified into three stages of decline depending on the dynamics and intensity of mortality and yield dynamics. We then established 11 trajectories over the plot lifespans (16 to 30 years). A detailed analysis of these trajectories revealed that plots associated with certain trajectories were more subject to decline, which helped us identify strategies that could limit or even prevent decline. We concluded that preventing decline requires adopting an integrated approach from planting to grubbing up, finding the right match between genetic material and soil–climate conditions, ensuring optimal water management, and managing potentially competing vegetation, like cover cropping. By identifying key practices over the vineyard lifespan, this study opens up new avenues for preventing decline by putting the focus on vigour management, water and mineral status of the plant. https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/8285vineyarddiebacktrajectoriesagricultural practicesretrospective studytypology
spellingShingle Anne MEROT
Marie Thiollet-Scholtus
Marc Sladeczek
Laure Hossard
Nathalie Smits
Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
OENO One
vineyard
dieback
trajectories
agricultural practices
retrospective study
typology
title Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
title_full Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
title_fullStr Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
title_full_unstemmed Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
title_short Long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
title_sort long term analysis of the link between practices and vineyard decline in relation to abiotic factors
topic vineyard
dieback
trajectories
agricultural practices
retrospective study
typology
url https://oeno-one.eu/article/view/8285
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AT marcsladeczek longtermanalysisofthelinkbetweenpracticesandvineyarddeclineinrelationtoabioticfactors
AT laurehossard longtermanalysisofthelinkbetweenpracticesandvineyarddeclineinrelationtoabioticfactors
AT nathaliesmits longtermanalysisofthelinkbetweenpracticesandvineyarddeclineinrelationtoabioticfactors