Sampling considerations for surveying copper concentrations in Australian vineyard soils
Adam Wightwick A B D , Mahabubur Mollah A B , Jennifer Smith C and Alison MacGregor A BA Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture, PO Box 154, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
B Primary Industries Research Victoria, Department of Primary Industries—Mildura, PO Box 905, Mildura, Vic. 3502, Australia.
C Primary Industries Research Victoria, Department of Primary Industries—Horsham, Private Bag 260, Horsham, Vic. 3401, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: adam.wightwick@dpi.vic.gov.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(7) 711-717 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR05135
Submitted: 12 September 2005 Accepted: 10 July 2006 Published: 20 October 2006
Abstract
The Australian wine industry has funded a study to determine the concentrations of copper in vineyard soils and to assess whether the continued use of copper-based fungicides is likely to be detrimental to the long-term agricultural sustainability of vineyard soils. Prior to the conduct of regional surveys to determine copper concentrations in vineyard soils, a preliminary study was conducted in 6 vineyards near Mildura (34°S, 142°E) (north-western Vic., Australia) to determine sampling considerations. The study investigated the distribution of copper in the soils of vineyards with 3 different histories of copper-based fungicide use: <5 years old; at least 30 years old during which time the vineyard had been ploughed and replanted; and at least 60 years old. At 3 locations in each vineyard, soil samples were collected from 2 depths (0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m) at 0.30-m intervals along two 1.50-m-long transects running at right angles in opposite directions from the vine trunk towards the inter-row areas.
The results showed that copper concentrations were higher in the top 0.15 m of soil (P < 0.001) and declined with distance from the vine (P = 0.002). The variation in copper concentrations between vineyards was found to be much greater than the variation within vineyards (variance component of 0.7746 and 0.0893, respectively). Balancing an acceptable level of error with the resources required to collect samples, we recommend obtaining 1 composite soil sample from each vineyard in regional surveys to determine copper concentrations in vineyard soils. Sampling depth and distance from the vine should also be taken into consideration in future soil sampling depending on the objective of the study.
Additional keywords: copper concentration, soil, vineyards, sampling, copper fungicide.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centre Program and conducted through the CRC for Viticulture with support from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers through their investment body the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, with matching funds from the Federal Government. This project was also funded by the Victorian Department of Primary industries (DPI).
We would also like to thank: Jenny Gordon and Lisa Mitchell from DPI—Mildura for technical assistance with the project; the participating grapegrowers for allowing us to collect samples from their vineyards; Mike McLaughlin, Enzo Lombi, and Caroline Johnstone from CSIRO Land and Water for assistance with extraction and analysis of the metals from the soil; Terri Robinson from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) for assistance with sample collection and processing; Dr Rob Walker, Dr Jim Hardie, Dr Sally Officer, and Dr Lukas Van Zwieten for constructive input into this manuscript.
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