Vinpro’s independent soil scientists specialise in precision soil surveys and mapping for informed decision support and risk management in the wine industry. The main goal: to ensure sustainable soil management with customised solutions.

GIS SERVICES

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used at Vinpro to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage and present soil and other useful spatial data. Vinpro offers customized mapping solutions for the wine industry.

GIS Mapping solutions

Basic farm maps

• Block layouts with block data
• Aerial imagery
• Contour maps
• Farm boundaries
• Area calculations

Soil mapping

• GPS logging of profile pits and data capturing
• GPS soil photo database
• Colour Interpolation maps of soil properties
• Variable Rate Application calculations with GIS

Terrain analysis

• Altitude
• Slope in degrees or percentage
• Aspect of slope
• Curvature of slope
• Solar Radiation
• Day length
• Flow direction and accumulation

Remote sensing

NDVI mapping

EM38 mapping

Digitizing solutions

• Scanning of old soil maps and geo-referencing
• Digitizing of soil blocks and block data (SAWIS data)

SOIL SCIENCE SERVICES

Soil management lies at the core of sustainable farming. Proper knowledge of your soil properties and how to maintain optimal soil fertility is of vital importance to the grape producer. Vinpro offers a wide variety of soil consulting services.

Soil Classification

A detail soil map is the base of any farm planning. Detail descriptions of physical soil properties and rectification measures is needed to successfully plan a new vineyard. Below are different soil properties that is classified during a profile inspection.

• • Soil group (14 groups)
  • Soil form  (73 forms)
  • Soil family (404 families)
  • Soil horizon descriptions
  • Soil family descriptions
  • Depths of all soil horizons and effective rooting depth
  • Amount and size of coarse fragments/rocks
  • Topsoil and subsoil limitations
  • Soil texture
  • Soil clay content
  • Soil wetness
  • Soil suitability (vigour index)
  • Transitional soil form

Soil Sampling

• Taking of soil samples
• Delivering soil samples to an accredited soil laboratory
• Interpretation of chemical results with physical soil properties in mind

Soil Mapping

• Soil maps, created with ArcGIS software
• Chemical amelioration maps

Soil ameliorant recommendations

Physical soil alteration recommendations

• Soil preparation
• Drainage advice

Vivian White
SOIL SCIENTIST
Tel: +27 72 556 6311
E-mail: vivian@vinpro.co.za