Adapting American Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Varieties to Mediterranean Sustainable Agriculture: A Trellis Height Exploration

In recent years, Italy’s craft beer industry has seen remarkable growth, fostering the local production of key ingredients, notably hops. However, a research gap exists in exploring open-field hop productivity in typical Mediterranean climates using low-trellis systems. This study addressed this gap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Horticulturae 2024-02, Vol.10 (2), p.181
Main Authors: Marceddu, Roberto, Carrubba, Alessandra, Alfeo, Vincenzo, Alessi, Alessandro, Sarno, Mauro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptability
Agricultural production
Arid climates
Beer
Biomass
Breweries
Climate
Comparative analysis
cone yield
Cultivation
Environmental aspects
Fertilizers
Hops
Humulus lupulus
low trellis
Measurement
semi-arid environment
Semiarid climates
Soil conditions
Statistical analysis
Sustainable agriculture
Variables
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:In recent years, Italy’s craft beer industry has seen remarkable growth, fostering the local production of key ingredients, notably hops. However, a research gap exists in exploring open-field hop productivity in typical Mediterranean climates using low-trellis systems. This study addressed this gap by evaluating the productive performances of “Cascade” and “Chinook” hop varieties on “V” trellis systems at different heights (2.60, 3.60, and 4.60 m above ground) in inner Sicily’s Mediterranean climate and soil conditions. The results highlighted the significant impact of trellis height on various parameters, with Cascade displaying exceptional adaptability to low-trellis farming. Key factors like stem and leaf weight emerged as crucial drivers of cone yield, emphasizing their significance in hop cultivation. The distinct responses of Cascade and Chinook varieties to varying trellis heights underscored the need for tailored approaches, offering valuable insights for optimizing hop cultivation practices in semi-arid climates.
ISSN:2311-7524
2311-7524
DOI:10.3390/horticulturae10020181