Soil Genesis and Suitability for Viticulture in Zones under Mediterranean Environment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze and classify the soils of the municipality of Alcubillas (La Mancha, Central Spain) and establish their suitability for vine cultivation. Alcubillas is a traditional location dedicated to vineyards and the production of wine. The pedological fingerprint of this location is the iconic red Mediterranean soil, and a plausible process for the soil formation is discussed. Considering the nature of the soils and the extent and types of natural limitations, as defined by the eight classes of land capability established by the US Soil Conservation Service, the majority of the soils in Alcubillas are suitable for vineyards (i.e., classes 1, 2 and 3) while moderately suitable sites only occupy a small area. The marginally suitable land class is located around a single hill, which occupies only a few hectares of terrain. Given that soil is a major factor in terroir expression, the findings reported here highlight the importance of soil suitability in determining vine performance in vine-growing zones with a Mediterranean environment.