C.A.R.BO.VIT.: Modeling Carbon Sequestration in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Vineyards
Armosys plays a strategic role in the C.A.R.BO.VIT. project by providing the scientific and technological framework for carbon farming assessment. By applying ARMOSA to quantify and monitor soil organic carbon dynamics and nitrogen fluxes under different vineyard management practices. The integration of field data with advanced modeling enables reliable estimation of carbon sequestration and supports the development of a simplified and robust system for soil carbon accounting.
About the Project
The centrality of the issue of climate change mitigation and adaptation, which has been highlighted in recent years by various relevant pieces of legislation, is increasingly forcing farms to introduce innovative techniques in the management of agricultural crops. In this context, the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Wine has paid attention to the health of the soil of the vineyards to be improved through the addition of organic substance that allows the affirmation of a business model capable of improving performance in carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.
The C.A.R.BO.VIT. project (“Carbon and Nitrogen from Regenerative Agriculture using Bio-sustainable Techniques in the Vineyard”) is a 42-month innovation initiative promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and funded under the Veneto Regional Complement for Rural Development (CSR Veneto 2023–2027). The project is implemented across seven representative vineyards located within the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore production area.
The project focuses in particular on increasing soil organic matter by replacing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers with organic amendments such as compost and manure. These practices aim to improve soil structure, microbial activity, water retention capacity, and vineyard resilience to climate change, while also supporting balanced vine growth.
A key feature of the project is the On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) approach, which integrates scientific research directly into real farming conditions. Different fertilization strategies are tested and compared across the participating vineyards to evaluate their agronomic and environmental performance.
Definition of management plans and organic fertilization plans for the selected plots
| Treatment | Name | Land Slope | Practice Tested | Details | Comparison |
| T1 | Slopes | High slope | Pelleted fertilization | Simple pellet: dried bovine and equine manure Complex pellet: bovine manure with PGPR (nitrogen-fixing rhizospheric bacteria) | Chemical fertilization and standard farm practice |
| T2 | Regenerative | Medium slope | Cover crops | Legume-based mixtures for atmospheric nitrogen fixation Grass-based mixtures to increase soil organic matter | Chemical fertilization and standard farm practice |
| T3 | Organic 1 | Low slope | Plant-based compost | Gradual nutrient release and soil structure improvement | Chemical fertilization and standard farm practice |
| T4 | Organic 2 | Low slope | Manure application | Gradual nutrient release and soil structure improvement | Chemical fertilization and standard farm practice |