M. Popescu, A. Ranca, G. M. Cracu, Z Prefac, C. Urdea - CLIMATIC CONDITIONS’ INFLUENCE ON VINEYARD...

Studii şi cercetări, Geology-Geography 17, Bistriţa, p. 117-127 117

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS’ INFLUENCE ON VINEYARD

LANDSCAPES FROM SOUTHERN ROMANIA

M. POPESCU

*, Aurora RANCA

**, G. M. CRACU

*, Zoia PREFAC

*,

Cornelia-Maria URDEA*

Abstract: The climatic changes which determined within the latest years the

intensification of extreme phenomenon, like droughts and aridity, have an unfavourable

influence on the agricultural crops, its fighting measures being absolutely necessary. In

Southern Romania, most of the agricultural cultures require an optimal quantity of water,

in view of ensuring the best production. This paper emphasizes the dryness conditions

from Southern Romania, by presenting the main climatic elements, temperature and

precipitations, but also the specific characteristics for drought and aridity. The relationship

between some aridity index and the climatic water deficit is also herein discussed with the

purpose of identifying the best solutions for the water demand, for the vineyard landscapes

in Southern Romania. In order to produce qualitative grapes, the vineyard cultures from

semidry areas from Southern Romania requires a greater quantity of water, especially

within the summer months, July and August.

Key words: climate, wine growing, landscape, water.

Introduction

In this paper are presented the climatic conditions from Romanian Plain and

Dobrogea Plateau, semidry regions located in Southern Romania.

Romanian Plain is characterized by a temperate continental climate, with

submediterranean influences, more pronounced in the South-West and aridity

influences, emphasized in the East, which is interposed between a transitional

region, which interferes circulations from East with the West.

In Dobrogea, a distinct feature of the climate represents a priority means the

frequency of droughts phenomenon, which formed the fund of lower quantities of

rainfall in Romania.

* Ovidius University, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Constanta, Romania.

**Research Station for Viticulture and Enology Murfatlar, Constanta, Romania.

Corresponding author: Marius Popescu, Ovidius University, Faculty of Natural and

Agicultural Sciences, 1 Universitatii Str., 900470, Constanta, Romania, E-mail:

[email protected]

M. POPESCU, Aurora RANCA, G. M. CRACU, Zoia PREFAC,

118 Cornelia-Maria URDEA

Among the authors who have spreaded an intensive activity in Romania,

research on irrigation of crops were counted: Botzan (1972), Grumeza et all.(1970,

1989), Păltineanu et all.(2000, 2007).

Viticulture is an old tradition in Romanian Plain, where are favorable natural

conditions of soil, climate and relief. In the land of vines from Romanian Plain

prevails areas with hybrid varieties, these representing large share in the counties of

Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Calarasi, Ialomita.

The vines grafted dealing largest surfaces in South-West of the sandy land in

Oltenia Plain: facing South and South-West, brightness and sufficient humidity,

sandy soils. Greaca Vineyard, located in South, on the Danube terraces, benefits of

favorable natural conditions: slopes with Southern exposure, cambisoils, brightness

and heat large enough for a fully matured grapes.

In the Eastern Plain, wine growing areas have local importance, being extended

on the Călmăţui, Ialomiţa and Danube terraces.

In Northern Dobrogea, vineyards occupies largest surfaces in areas of tradition

(Niculiţel Vineyard), but where natural meadows with low productivity were

upturned, terraced and some isolated brush were cleared (Tulcea, Babadag).

The vines have acquaintances a broad development in the last decades,

especially on the terraced slopes of valleys with degraded lands.

The largest wine growing areas of Southern Dobrogea Plateau are concentrated

on the frame of Western Cobadin Plateau (Ostrov Vineyard) and along the Carasu

Valley, currently Danube - Black Sea Canal, Murfatlar Vineyard.

These wine growing areas total about 77,000 hectares (70% in the South of the

Romanian Plain and 30% in Dobrogea Plateau).

Even if this area is not only 2% of the agricultural area of two units of relief, the

knowledge of the water needed vine crops is important in the context of

maintaining and possibly extending the space of this crop in those semidry regions

in Southern and South-Eastern Romania (Geografia României, vol. V, 2005).

The aim of this paper is to highlight aridity conditions in Southern Romania and

to present spatial distribution of evapotranspiration reference values (ET0-PM), the

actual maximum estimated evaporation (ETc-est) in Southern and South-Eastern

Romania’s vineyard cultures and the needs of water for vine crops, based on

relatively new methods, standardized at international level.

Materials and Methods

To calculate the optimum water consumption of crops and calculation of water

requirements are necessary both rainfall and crops evapotranspiration.

Penman-Monteith method for determining evapotranspiration reference (ET0-

PM, Monteith, 1965), based on physical parameters, is considered the standard

method today (Jensen et all., 1990; Păltineanu et all. 2000), recently won a general

recognition and substituting other empirical methods for determining ET0-PM, now

the only method recommended by FAO (Allen et all., 1998).

Climatic conditions’ influence on vineyard landscapes

from Southern Romania 119

This method was used in this study. Thus, for approx. 40 points of observation

(weather stations) in Southern and South-Eastern Romania were calculated

monthly average values of the climatic elements necessary to calculation: ET0-PM,

optimal consumption of water (crop evapotranspiration, ETc-est), the water

requirements of crops (WR) and rainfall (Allen et all., 1998). For zoning indicators

ETc-est and WR, their territorial allocation was made for the entire growing season

or summer, using the method Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), to area of study.

Results for the average climatic conditions were obtained based on the

methodology proposed by Allen et all. (1998), reviewed extensively at

international level and Romania (Păltineanu et all., 2000, 2007), provided that the

technology of production for this crop. It should be noted that the results relate to

the average weather conditions in Southern and South-Eastern Romania,

characterized of more arid climate compared to other regions of Romania.

Results and Discussions

The average annual temperature of the air.

Fig. 1 Spatial distribution of annual average air temperature (°C) in Southern Romania

The higher average multiannual of the air temperatures, over 11.0˚C and 13.0˚C

over on the surface of the soil, it is noted in the half South of Romanian Plain, on

the Black Sea Coast, on a narrow area in Central Dobrogea and a wide area in



South Dobrogea, where solar radiation and global values are higher. Annual

isotherms (Fig. 1) is diminishing, as a value, with the increase of relief altitude and

distance over the coast in South-East. Along the years have noticed large

unperiodically variations the air temperature and soil temperature. Thus, under the

advection influence of hot tropical air, the highest values have exceeded 12.0˚C

almost throughout the region. On the soil surface, the highest values have exceeded

15.0˚C, with 3.0˚C, more than air, and the lowest values was 11.0˚ - 12.0˚C

(Geografia României, vol. V, 2005).

Average annual rainfall quantities (Fig. 2) show a general trend of gradual

reduction from the West (Vânju Mare, 590 mm) to the East (Braila, 458 mm) in

Romanian Plain, as the influences of maritime air to reduce and increase influences

of continental air. In the central plain, the rainfall are the richest (550 to 600 mm)

being the area of interference West circulation with the East. Also rainfall are

reduced from North to South, while reducing altitude.

In Dobrogea, the annual average quantity of rainfall increases from the Black

Sea Coast to the Western extremity of Dobrogea and isohyets tend to become

parallel with the shore of the Black Sea in Eastern Dobrogea, in the area with

influence of marine breezes. The annual values of isohyets increase in the middle

of the land from under 350 mm, up to 400-450 mm. Along the years, the annual

average amount of rainfall may lower to 200-250 mm, hydrous deficit being filled

by irrigations.

Fig. 2 Spatial distribution of annual average rainfall (mm) in Southern Romania



The correlation between the amounts of rainfall and distance from the Black Sea

increases during warm semester of year (months IV-X). The amounts of rainfall

increase gradually in the interior of the land, on a distance of 30-35 km towards the

coast, in relation with reducing the influence of marine breezes. Distribution

quantities of rainfall in Dobrogea are distinguished, as in other steppe regions

around the Black Sea, through an accented variability, especially during the warm

period of year (months IV-X) (Geografia României, vol. V, 2005).

Index of aridity Emm. de Martonne. Romanian Plain and Dobrogea Plateau

required in the geographical landscape of Romania by the phenomena of dry and

drought, which are typical for the continental temperate climate in the country.

These phenomena are very complex, determined of several factors: the dynamics of

the atmosphere, surface active particularities, human influence etc.

Predominant role they hold dynamic factors, as the influence of anticyclones,

with predominant clear sky, sunstroke, reducing rainfall, or even the absence of

their total at least 10 to 15 days consecutively.

Given their ecological importance, these phenomena have been addressed along

time under various aspects: the criterion Hellmann, indices of aridity, a deficit of

water from the soil, indices bioclimatic or climate charts.

Index of aridity Emm. de Martonne was calculated for average annual values on

a period of 90 years, the formula

Ia = P / T + 10 where: Ia = aridity index; P = average annual amount of rainfall; T = average

annual temperature; 10 = one coefficient used to not get negative values. This

index present the advantage to express the characteristics of vegetation, as well as

those of the hydrographic network in relation to the dry.

Geographical distribution of this index shows that on the territory of Romanian

Plain, the level of continental influence increase from North to South and from

West to East (Fig. 3).

The lowest values of this (<22) are characteristic of extreme aridity area from

the Eastern periphery of Romanian Plain and Danube wetlands, which corresponds

to the smallest annual quantity of rainfall (<450 mm). Following, the East half of

Bărăgan Plain, with values of aridity index between 22 and 24, which correspond

to the field with a temperate continental influences of aridity.

Aridity indices of 24 to 26 characterized the field of temperate continental

climate with reduced influence of aridity corresponding to half West of Bărăgan,

Burnas and Southern part of Găvanu - Burdea, Romanaţi and Băileşti Plains.

Aridity indices greater than 26 correspond to a temperate continental climate

moderated covering most of Oltenia, Teleorman and Ialomiţa Plains in which share

of rainfall with 50 to 100 mm greater than in previous areas.

In Romanian Plain to separate two large areas where are present the phenomena

of dry and drought: Western part of this plain, where submediterranean influences

occurring annually from consecutive 3 to 3.5 months with the phenomena of dry

and 1 to 2 months with the phenomena of drought, and Eastern part with the



continental influence of aridity, with consecutive 3 to 4 months of dry and 1 to 2

months of drought.

In the central sector of the Romanian Plain, where rainfall is more rich, occur

only dry phenomena with a duration of 1 to 3 months per year, increasing from

North to South. In Dobrogea isoline of 19 marks to the east coastal area, the most

arid of Romania, the main cause was the influence of the Black Sea. To the East of

this isoline is one of 17, respectively, above the territorial waters in the immediate

vicinity. At the west isoline of 19, the value of index aridity increase from 21 to 22

(Fig. 3).

Fig. 3 Spatial distribution of annual Aridity Index Emm. de Martonne in Southern Romania

In recent decades, due to climate warming, noting a motion translation of

isolines from East to West, so that the area is bounded by the coast isoline of 17,

the 19 isoline is situated in the inside of land. In West of Dobrogea, beyond the

area of influence of marine breezes, extremely dry periods is associated with

increased frequency of a torrential rain, with large quantities in short periods of

time.

The lower quantities of rainfall in Dobrogea occur in the area of maximum

influence of marine breezes, through attenuation of torrential rainfall and absence

of extremely dry periods.

Under the distance of 30 km over seashore and under 20 m altitude, extremely

dry periods are missing, but the quantities of rainfall are the lowest.



In Dobrogea, in an average year occur consecutively from 4 to 6 months of dry

(that is the prelude drought), increasing gradually from West to East and from

North to South and records 2 to 3 consecutive months of drought.

This requires the introduction of irrigations systems as an effective means to

combat their effect (Geografia României, vol. V, 2005).

The annual ET0-PM (evapotranspiration reference, calculated using the method

Penman-Monteith) are shown in Fig. 4. The ET0-PM values varies between 750

and 800 mm, they generally increasing from North to South. ET0-PM isoline of

750 mm means actually, the upper limit of plains and low tablelands.

The South-West of the Romanian Plain and South-East of Dobrogea Plateau,

with large areas of vines crop, highlights by the highest values of ET0-PM, by 800

mm annually.

From this allocation result, obviously, that there are regions where the annual

values of ET0-PM greater than 700 mm and an average amount of rainfall, less than

this amount needs irrigations during the summer.

An acute need for irrigations during the summer presents territories where the

ET0-PM are greater than 750 mm, especially with values of 800 mm annually. Of

these, Dobrogea and Bărăgan are most dry, must be considered as priorities in the

implementation of irrigation, important both economically and as a modifier of the

landscape factor.

Fig. 4 Spatial distribution of annual ET0-PM (mm) in Southern Romania



Fig. 5 illustrates the ETc-est (real evaporation for vine crops) values for vine

crops during the growing season, with values between 430 and 470 mm. The

highest values (460-470 mm) is recorded in the South-West of Romania through

high values (440-450 mm) in the Southern part of the Romanian Plain and

Bărăgan, and in Dobrogea, the values are higher in South - West (over 450 mm)

and the lowest up to 430 mm in the Central-North part.

Fig. 5 Spatial distribution of annual ETc-est (mm) in Southern Romania



Fig. 6 Spatial distribution of vegetation period WDC (mm) in Southern Romania

The difference between the values of annual rainfall and ET0-PM, is the annual

water deficit climate (WDC), with negative sign, which characterize the essence of

the natural landscape, through the contribution of ET0 instead of temperature,

rainfall and ET0-PM with the same units of measurement, WDC present absolute

values (mm). Months of practice for water consumption of crops form of

vegetation period (Fig. 6), which extends from April to October.

Vine crops are not big consumers of water, but in some summer months,

especially in July and August, water needs could increase the production of grapes

(Grumeza et all., 1970). During the growing season, the Water Requirement (WR)

for vine crops amounted to 220 mm in the Eastern part of Dobrogea, 200 mm in the

South-West of Dobrogea and in the South-West of Oltenia Plain. In the central part

of Dobrogea is worth noting the 180 to 200 mm, while in Southern Romanian

Plain, the decrease from South to North, from 180 to 150 mm. The above, of the

territories mentioned represented in Fig. 7 the quantities of water requirement for

vine crops in Southern and South-Eastern Romania. Most of the Dobrogea Plateau

and South-West of the Romanian Plain are characterized by the values of the water

requirements of 180-220 mm.



Fig. 7 Spatial distribution of Water Requirement (mm) in the growing season in Southern

Romania

Conclusions 1. The highest values (460-470 mm) of ETc-est during the growing season for

vineyard landscapes are located in the South-West of the Romanian Plain, crossing

the average (440-460 mm) in South-West of Dobrogea, in South of Romanian Plain

and Bărăgan, and the lowest values, under 440 mm in the Northern Dobrogea.

2. During the growing season of the vine, water requirements (WR) for vine

crops, amounted to 200-220 mm in the East and South-West of Dobrogea and in

the South-West of the Romanian Plain.

3. Most of the Romanian Plain and North-Central part of Dobrogea Plateau are

characterized by values of the WR between 180-200 mm. Most small amounts, less

than 180 mm correspond to Central-Southern area of the Romanian Plain. The

above values, of the territories mentioned, represents the greatest volume of WR for

vine crops.

4. The knowledge action of climatic factors is a real utility in improving the

development of vine crops, and development of grapes production for quality and

quantity. In semidry climatic conditions of Southern Romania, measures are

needed to offset the negative influence of climatic factors, and contribute positively

to the development of vine crops, part of vineyard landscape in this region.

Rezumat. În acest studiu este evidenţiată influenţa condiţiilor climatice asupra

peisajelor viticole din sudul şi sud-estul României, respectiv Câmpia Română şi Podişul



Dobrogei. Aceste regiuni oferă condiţii eco-pedo-climatice favorabile culturilor viticole,

dar în acelaşi timp pe teritoriul lor se manifestă influenţe climatice de ariditate. Sunt

evidenţiate principalele caracteristici ale temperaturii aerului, precipitaţiilor, indicelui de

ariditate Emm. de Martonne, atât din Câmpia Română, cât şi din Podişul Dobrogei. Pentru

evidenţierea cantităţii de apă, necesară plantaţiilor viticole din aceste areale semiaride, în

lucrare sunt prezentate: distribuţia spaţială a evapotranspiraţiei ET0-PM, ca valori anuale,

distribuţia spaţială a evaporaţiei reale maximă (ETc-est) pentru culturi de viţă de vie,

deficitul climatic de apă, precum şi valorile consumului necesar de apă, în perioada de

vegetaţie a viţei de vie. Pentru a obţine producţii optime de struguri, atât calitativ, cât şi

cantitativ, culturile viticole, ca parte a peisajului specific din regiunile semiaride din sudul

şi sud-estul României, necesită o cantitate optimă de apă, în special în lunile de vară, iulie

şi august.

REFERENCES: ALLEN, R. G., PEREIRA, L. S., RAES, D. & SMITH, M., 1998, Crop evapotranspiration,

Guidelines for computing crop water requirements, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper

56, Rome

BOTZAN, M., 1970, Bilantul apei în solurile irigate, Ed. Academiei, Bucureşti

GRUMEZA N., ALEXANDRESCU I., MIHALACHE L., 1970, Cercetări privind regimul de

irigaţii la viţa-de-vie în podgoriile din sud-estul ţării, Analele ICIFP, Seria Îmbunătăţiri

Funciare, vol. III (VII), Bucureşti: 59-71

GRUMEZA, N., MERCULIEV, O., KLEPS, C., 1989, Prognoza şi programarea aplicării

udărilor în sistemele de irigaţie, Ed. Ceres, Bucureşti

JENSEN, M. E., BURMAN, R. D., ALLEN, R. G., 1990, Evapotranspiration and irrigation

water requirements. ASCE manual 70, New York, NY

MONTEITH, J. L., 1965, Evapotranspiration and the environment. In: The state and movement

of water in living organisms, XIXth Symposium Soc. for Exp. Biol., Swansea, Cambridge

University Press

PĂLTINEANU, CR., MIHĂILESCU, I. F., SECELEANU, I., 2000, Dobrogea. Condiţiile

pedoclimatice, consumul şi necesarul apei de irigaţie ale principalelor culturi agricole, Ed.

ExPonto, Constanţa

PĂLTINEANU, CR., MIHAILESCU, I.F., SECELEANU, I., DRAGOTĂ, CARMEN,

VASENCIUC, FELICIA, 2007, Ariditatea, seceta, evapotranspiraţia şi cerinţele de apă ale

culturilor agricole în România, Ed. Ovidius University Press, Constanţa

* * * 2005, Geografia României, vol. V, Câmpia Română, Dunărea, Podişul Dobrogei,

Litoralul românesc al Mării Negre şi Platforma continentală, Academia Română, Institutul

de Geografie, Ed. Academiei Române, Bucureşti

M. Popescu, A. Ranca, G. M. Cracu, Z Prefac, C. Urdea - CLIMATIC CONDITIONS’ INFLUENCE ON VINEYARD...

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