Ever heard the saying “water is life”? Without it, no one and nothing on our planet can survive. This includes our vineyards and crops here at Alvi’s Drift.
Indeed, agriculture uses by far the most of our planet’s water resources, averaging about 70 percent of total freshwater withdrawals. In light of this, it is clear that water conservation should be top of mind for every responsible and environmentally conscious agricultural enterprise.
Water conservation is also the reason why our head winemaker, Alvi van der Merwe, opted to install NOVAP’s revolutionary deep root underwater irrigation system on 30 hectares at our farm, making our wine farm the first SA wine producer to employ this groundbreaking technology on a large scale.
“There are so many advantages to using NOVAP’s underwater irrigation system here at Alvi’s Drift. What I like most is that it makes me a more sustainable wine producer.” - Alvi van der Merwe
Why Water Is So Important to Growing Crops
Water is absolutely critical throughout a growing season in order for plants to thrive. Too little soil moisture can have a negative effect. For example, early in a crop’s cycle, insufficient water may delay the plant’s maturity, affecting its yield as well as fruit quality.
Water shortages later in the season can lead to decreased fruit quality as well as yields, and even cause irreversible crop damage. On the other hand, too much moisture, especially late in the season, can affect both the quality and post-harvest life of crops.
The Benefits of Agricultural Irrigation
Simply put, the main goal of irrigation is to provide crops with the right amount of moisture, at the right time. Doing so prevents yield loss as a result of water stress at critical stages of growth.
Irrigation not only prevents water wastage, it also improves the overall quality of soil, ensures efficient use of energy and power, improves labour productivity and preserves water bodies.
Alvi’s Drift At the Forefront of Sustainable Irrigation Practices in SA
As the first winery in our country to implement a revolutionary underground irrigation system for better water use and sustainability, our team at Alvi’s Drift is proud to be one of the earliest local adopters of this positive advancement.
The NOVAP system enables us to deliver water and nutrients directly to the vines' root hair zone. Root hairs, also known as absorbent hairs, are outgrowths of epidermal cells – specialised cells located at the tip of a plant root. The root hair zone contains an undisturbed, vital organic soil layer that is rich in microscopic life.
The microorganisms within this organic soil layer are responsible for breaking down minerals into forms that are accessible to the plant. NOVAP allows us to control the levels of moisture and nutrients in the root hair zone without overwatering the upper soil layers or disturbing the fragile root hairs. This precision is essential for the vines’ efficient uptake of nutrients over time.
“We add ozone (O3) to our irrigation water at the pump system. The ozone breaks down into oxygen and water, and when the water is delivered underground through the NOVAP system, there is more oxygen available to the soil microbes, which is very beneficial to them.”
Sustainable Viticulture Through Underground Irrigation At Alvi’s Drift
With an average annual rainfall of just 300 mm, using water efficiently at our Scherpenheuvel winery is crucial.
In 2019, after extensive research, Alvi decided to plant 25 hectares of vineyards (Chenin Blanc/Ruggeri, Merlot/Paulsen, Chardonnay/8-7, and Pinot Noir/Paulsen) and 5 hectares of citrus using NOVAP’s groundbreaking underground irrigation system.
The NOVAP system, short for “No Evaporation,” is designed to supply water to the deeper root systems of vines, significantly reducing water loss through evapotranspiration.
“Remember, with this underwater irrigation system, we’re adding water," says Alvi. “We’re not just giving water to our crops; we are supplementing rainwater.”
This technology addresses both the major issues of water evaporation and dripper blockages in traditional watering systems.
How NOVAP’s Underwater Irrigation System Works
The NOVAP system consists of a main supply line pipe, a dripper/regulator attached to the main supply line, and a microtube connecting the dripper/regulator to the NOVAP sub-surface diffuser filled with hydrophobic silica.
To install this system, holes 180-200 mm deep are dug between vines. A NOVAP diffuser is placed in each hole with the vertical pipe upright, then refilled with soil. Finally, the dripper/regulator and diffuser are connected using the microtube.
During irrigation, water flows through the main supply line to the drippers/regulators and then down to the NOVAP diffuser. The system ensures that water is evenly distributed in the soil, creating a hydrated bulb up to 7.5 cm wide and 1.2 m deep, depending on soil type.
This innovative irrigation method eliminates surface evaporation, keeping the upper layer of soil completely dry.
Watch this short video to see exactly how the NOVAP system is installed, from start to finish!
Advantages of NOVAP’s Underground Irrigation System
- No water loss due to evaporation
- Water is directly available to plants’ root zones
- Significant water savings
- Reduced weed growth and lower weed control costs
- Enhanced oxygen levels for soil microbes
- Shorter irrigation times, leading to reduced electricity usage
- Lower vineyard humidity, improving flower pollination and reducing fungal diseases
- Direct fertilisation of plants’ root zones with minimal soil salinisation
- Overlapping hydrated bulbs create a stable lateral water zone, benefiting plants’ nutrient uptake
Additional benefits include improved pollination due to decreased humidity, which enhances trees’ ability to pollinate others.
The NOVAP Deep Root Irrigation System also creates a constant water supply, significantly reducing plant stress while increasing overall health and yield.
“The Chenin Blanc wine that came from the vines irrigated by NOVAP is simply superb. It’s just more proof that we have taken a big step towards greater sustainability by installing this system in our vineyards.” – Riaan Marais, Cellar Master
The Road Ahead for NOVAP in the Wine Industry
Our 2019 installation at Alvi’s Drift has been one of NOVAP’s largest projects to date. Typically, farmers start on a smaller scale to become familiar with the system before expanding.
Alvi’s primary motivation for installing NOVAP’s system was not just to conserve water but to be a more sustainable wine producer overall. NOVAP’s system enabled our winemaker to conserve water and irrigate more vineyards while also producing fruit of a very high standard.
The high quality of the Chenin Blanc wine from our NOVAP-irrigated vines, along with the exceptional vigour in these vineyards, truly bodes well for NOVAP underground irrigation in both viticulture and the broader fruit industry going forward.
We believe the benefits and quality achieved with this system outweigh the initial costs, making it a highly sustainable choice for our future winemaking endeavours.
The Importance of Managing Our Planet’s Water Resources
With drier and warmer conditions predicted to increase the world over, and no end to global warming in sight, agricultural sectors face growing pressure to manage water more effectively. The wine industry is no exception.
While traditional drip systems remain effective, they can easily become blocked, highlighting the need for changes in irrigation practices.
At Alvi’s Drift, we believe our adoption of sustainable viticulture through NOVAP’s underground irrigation technology demonstrates our commitment to better water management and overall sustainability.
By implementing such advanced irrigation technology, our farm is proud to set a benchmark for sustainability in the local wine industry.
Towards A More Sustainable Future
Join us in our efforts by supporting our sustainable winemaking practices. Share this blog, follow us on social media, and choose Alvi’s Drift wines to make a positive impact on the environment.
A toast to a more sustainable future!
