Project start date
01/2024
Project end date
12/2027
Project Summary
The goal of the "VitiForst" research project is to establish the foundations for interdisciplinary research into integrating woody plants into viticulture in Baden-Württemberg. Particular emphasis is placed on climate protection and biodiversity. A multi-stage research approach is being pursued: greenhouse trials (including drought stress experiments) at the University of Hohenheim are investigating interspecific interactions between trees and grapevines. In the field, existing VitiForst sites and structures resembling VitiForst systems (solitary trees, hedgerows) within and around vineyards are being sampled to assess the potential of established woody plants (e.g., by recording flying insect diversity and analyzing the rhizosphere microbiome). In parallel, long-term trial and demonstration sites are being established at the two state institutes for viticulture (WBI Freiburg and LVWO Weinsberg); these will provide valuable viticultural insights in the future (e.g., regarding effects on microclimate, yield, and grape quality). Practical implementation and transfer examples are being studied using a transdisciplinary approach in two focus regions (Remstal and Kaiserstuhl).
In addition to the Universities of Hohenheim and Freiburg, project participants include the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science (HfWU), the State Institute for Viticulture and Pomology (LVWO) in Weinsberg, and the State Institute of Viticulture and Enology (WBI) in Freiburg.
