“Recent research indicates that the total area where wine grapes can be grown in South Africa in future, may quite possibly shrink as a result of climate change. The wine industry is an important part of the South African economy, and therefore it is important to do research that can help the industry to alleviate the impact of climate change,” explains Dr Theron, a lecturer at the Department of Agriculture at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Impact of environmental factors
It is expected that wine grape production will be particularly affected by rising levels of atmospheric CO2, higher average temperatures and a decrease in rainfall.
“Most of our winegrowing areas are already experiencing lower rainfall than in the past and this is already not enough to provide in the needs of the vineyards,” says Dr.Theron.
“It is an expensive exercise to establish a vineyard and farmers want it to grow well and get into full production as soon as possible,” she continues. “The initial growth of a newly planted vineyard has a direct effect on the long-term vineyard performance and lifespan of the block.
Young vine growth is extremely sensitive to environmental conditions and it is expected that future climatic conditions will influence vegetative growth in the first growing season.”
This story is from the August 2020 edition of FarmBiz.
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This story is from the August 2020 edition of FarmBiz.
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