The research project on kiwifruit mortality, launched last year as part of theCommon Market Organisation (CMO) for fruit and vegetables in Emilia-Romagna, keep doing steps forward and to arouse considerable interest among those involved in the agricultural sector.

The project aims to Explore the impact of water management on kiwifruit decline syndrome, a major problem for farmers. The main objective is improve the sustainability of agroecosystems and address this syndrome with determination, which represents a significant threat to Italian kiwifruit production.

Project approach and purpose

The heart of the project is the search for optimal solutions for the use of water and nutritional resources, adapting them to the specific phenological phases of kiwi (Actinidia). This work aims to increase sustainability and effectively combat kiwifruit decline. A key aspect of the project is theadoption of innovative technologies, like the satellite monitoring, to obtain a comprehensive view of agricultural field conditions and provide timely information to adjust agronomic practices.

Preliminary results and first discoveries

In the first months of the project, the analyses they focused on the Response of vegetation and biophysical indices calculated from satellite images of plots covered with anti-hail nets. Due to the increase in extreme weather events, such as hailstorms, there is a growing trend to cover kiwi plants.

Comparison between covered and uncovered fields

The analysis compared the NDVI, LAI, FPAR and FCOVER indices from 1 March 2023 to 31 October 2023 between a plot covered with anti-hail net and an uncovered one with similar characteristics. The results showed that thecoverage does not compromise the validity of the indexes, except for FCOVER, without prejudice to the need to use appropriate conversion factors.

Impact of the color of protective nets

A further study concerned the color of the anti-hail nets, to determine which shade responds best to satellite analyses of the health status of the plants. The first results, obtained from plots in Basilicata and Calabria, show that the black covers do not significantly alter the satellite signals and indices used, as well as those yellow. The white covers, instead, have a greater impact on the analyzed indices.