ROME, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Wine may not only be good for the heart and soul but also could help combat dangerous greenhouse gases, according to a new study from Italy's National Research Council (CNR).

    The study found that vineyards are similar to forests in their ability to act as a natural "sponge", absorbing and neutralizing gases like carbon dioxide, one of the leading causes of the greenhouse effect which has been heating up the Earth's atmosphere.

    One hectare of vineyards, CNR said, is capable of absorbing up to three tonnes of CO2 a year.

    CNR came to this conclusion after carrying out tests at a Tuscan vineyard which produces the prestigious wine Brunello di Montalcino in Italy.

    The Universities of Florence, Bologna, Turin, Foggia, Udine and Sassari all collaborated on the project.

    A vineyard was chosen in view of the fact that in Italy the trend is more towards growing quality products rather than maintaining large areas of forest land, CNR said.

    A team of between 10 to 15 researchers monitored every leaf of every vine for a period of two weeks between July and August. Their findings showed that the Brunello vineyard could absorb three tonnes of CO2 a year.

    The results from the Tuscan vineyard experiment were similar to hose monitored at a kiwi farm near Ravenna in Emilia Romagna.

    This study was carried out from April to November 2004, the fruit's typical growing season. It found that kiwi vines could absorb 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year.

    CNR concluded that it was likely that other cultivated plants could be helpful in reducing greenhouse gases.

    Forests remain the best "sponge" thanks to their ability to neutralize up to 4.5 tonnes of CO2 per hectare through photosynthesis. Enditem