QualiSelect

Collaborative project: Single-vine related remote sensing of growth and health status in steep-slope viticulture and their integration into a quality-oriented concept of selective machine harvesting (QualiSelect) - Subproject B

The 'QualiSelect' project is concerned with the development of single-vine precise mechanical grape harvesting in precision viticulture. Taking into account the goals within the framework of innovation promotion, the focus is on strengthening rural areas by preserving steep slope areas, in addition to the ability to innovate and adapt to changing cultivation conditions. Ensuring this requires the single-vine related recording and documentation of relevant plant physiological parameters such as growth or pest infestation of the vines, be it through ground-based close-up sensing/detection or UAV-assisted remote sensing, as well as the processing and integration of the data obtained into the management system and quality-oriented and differential management - and reading strategy. On the one hand, this is intended to reduce resource consumption and, on the other hand, to optimize quality-oriented production within the framework of selective measures. The widespread use of grape harvesters plays the most important role in maintaining profitability, as grape harvesting is the main part of the work. While poor-quality harvests (from diseased, poorly growing or drought-stressed vines) can be selected by hand picking, single-vine selective harvesting with full harvesters is currently not possible either by direct pull or on steep slopes. A sensor-controlled, individual-stock-precise switching of the impact mechanism on and off as well as the calibration of the control software on grape harvesters from ERO GmbH are intended to enable stock-related, selectively controllable harvesting. The influence of quality-reducing factors is diminished by the fact that harvested crops that are to be rejected do not come into contact with healthy or selectively separated harvested crops through selective harvesting and adapted control of the transportation of the crops.

Project lead: Prof. Dr. Thomas Udelhoven
Project partners: DLR Mosel, PREMOSYS GmbH, ERO GmbH
Funding Agency: BMEL (Federal ministry 
Project period: 1. November 2024 – 31. Dezember 2027
Contact: Dr. Rebecca Retzlaff | +49 651 201-4594 | retzlaffuni-trierde