Within the framework of the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 and in particular Measure 16, Sub-Measure 16.1-16.5 "Cooperation for environmental projects, environmental practices and actions for climate change", the regional action entitled: "Saving water and reducing fertilizer inputs in the vineyards of Kefalonia" is implemented (M16SYN2-00196).
During the first year of implementation of the action (December 2022-December 2023) experimental treatments were designed and implemented in three producer vineyards in the Robola zone. Specifically, treatments were applied with or without tillage, as well as nitrogenous fertilization with or without slow release of nitrogen or organic fertilization with compost of grapes-by-products of winemaking of equivalent lubricating value. During the 2023 wine-growing season, the properties of the vineyards' soils were determined, a foliar analysis was carried out, in order to determine the nutritional status of the stumps, while field physiology measurements were also made (photosystem II performance, photosynthetic rate, stomata opening, etc.), but also laboratory analyzes to determine the quality of the grapes.
The first results of the experimental treatments regarding soil properties were presented at the 16th Panhellenic Soil Congress of the Hellenic Soil Society, which took place on the three days of December 4-6, 2023, in Athens. The first results of experimental treatments regarding vine physiology and grape quality will be presented soon, at the "International Symposium on Viticulture and Oenology: between Tradition and Innovation", organized by the International Society of Horticulture in May 2024, in Bucharest.
The Operational Group consists of seven partners, with the coordinating body being the Soil Water Resources Institute of ELGO-DIMITRA in Thermi, Thessaloniki. The other members of the operational team are the Ionian University (Department of Food Science & Technology, Soil Science Laboratory), the Agricultural University of Athens (Viticulture Laboratory), the Agricultural Wine Cooperative of Kefallinian Robola Producers "OREALIOS GI", the Development Consultants company "EURICON EPE" , the Network for Biodiversity and Ecology in Agriculture "AEGILOPAS" and Dr. Argyrios Gerakis, farm consultant.
The act is co-funded by Greece and the European Union