Integrated full line of mechanization for vineyard preparation

It is well known that in an increasingly globalizing economy the competitiveness of the wine sector is obtainable through effective marketing policies and the contextual reduction of production costs. To achieve these goals, vineyards must carry out both an integration of their wine supply chains and an operative and profitable optimization of their mechanized operations. The aim of this paper is to propose an integrated innovative system, based on electro-hydraulic-DGNSS-RTK technology, for the development of: i) a leveling control system to be integrated into conventional levelers; ii) an innovative transplanting system that allows the automatic point-laying location of each vine cutting without any kind of preliminary field squaring system and iii) a system for the automatic positioning of the poles. A specific software application, installed on an on-board automotive PC located in the tractor cabin, enables quick survey and calculates the target setting point for each operative machine coupled to the tractor. The full line system proposed has been tested and the results are quite satisfying, in terms of precision of leveling, planting and pole accuracy. Finally, the proposed system largely reduces labor requirements and planting costs.