Detecting subsidence-induced impacts from longwall coalmining on wine grape ('Vitus vinifera') yields: A case study from the Hunter Valley

Abstract

This thesis examines the impacts associated with active, longwall mining-induced subsidence on the yield of wine grape vines ('Vitis vinifera') in vineyards located in the Broke-Fordwich region of the Hunter Valley. As longwall mining has a distinctive, systematic impact upon surface topography, the question is posed whether or not vine yields are similarly impacted. A series of null hypotheses were developed and tested using data collected at multiple scales. The analysis of vineyard block scale, vineyard scale, and regional scale data over a five-year period revealed that there was no clear evidence of systematic and significant mining induced impacts upon overall vine yields. Instead, vine biophysical responses to climatic factors appeared to best account for the apparent 'negative' trends observed in the pre- and post-mining periods. This suggests that where present, mining-induced subsidence impacts are likely to be localized and site specific rather than systematic.