Viticultural Soil Testing Using Electronic Noses

Abstract

This study compared two sets of soil samples. One set was from a sheep paddock, the other set from an adjacent vineyard. Conventional agronomic soil tests showed that both sets of soil shared a common structure and nutrient base. However, there was more microbial biomass in the vineyard soil samples (p < 0.001). Most of this difference was due to increased fungal biomass in the vineyard (53% more total fungi biomass, p < 0.001), including mycorrhizal species (159% more mycorrhizal fungi biomass, p < 0.001). The study deployed a series of 10 electronic noses, each with six different gas sensors, on both sets of soil. The electronic noses detected higher levels of volatile organic compounds from the vineyard soil (p < 0.001), thus establishing a strong positive correlation with the microbial biomass results.