1	Site Preparation and Mineral Nutrition in Vineyards S. Kaan Kurtural Dept. Horticulture University of Kentucky
2	Vineyard Nutrition Stages Nutrition management is important during 3 phases: Site preparation Vine establishment Mature vines
3	Site Preparation
4	Site preparation One or two seasons before planting Weed control Soil testing Nutrient/pH adjustment Tree/brush/rock removal Cultivation: sub-soiling, plowing, disking Cover crop establishment
5	Vineyard Design Row orientation: across slope, parallel to prevailing wind; or north-south Row spacing: width of tractor and implements 9-12’ Vine spacing: variety and site dependent, 6-8’ Row length: site dependent, common 300’ Headlands & drive alleys: turning equipment 30 – 40’
6	Planting Considerations Order from reputable grapevine nurseries No of vines/acre = 43,560 sq.ft/row’ x vine spacing’ Order early fall for spring planting Plant in spring; soil temp >50F Minimize root pruning
7	Soil Testing Collect 10-20 sub-samples at 0-8” (top soil) and 8-16” (sub soil) depth Dry and mix all sub-samples together Sample non-uniform areas separately (hills, depressions)
8	Most critical To adjust Drainage Soil pH Organic matter Proper sampling, testing and interpretation of the soil test results
9	Desired soil properties for vineyard establishment Physical properties Minimum depth is 30” of rooting zone Internal water drainage: Moderate to well drained Chemical properties pH: between 5.5 – 6.5 O.M.: 2 – 3% P: 40 – 50 lbs/A K: 250 – 300 lbs/A Mg: 200 – 250 lbs/A Zn: 8 – 10 lbs/A B: 1.5 – 2 lbs/A
10
11
12
13	Sub-soiling
14
15
16	Soil Test Results
17	Adding Amendments Apply lime according to test results and lime quality Use dolomitic limestone if Mg test is also low Lime and phosphates need to be incorporated into the soil to be most effective
18	Soil pH and Nutrient availability Low soil pH (<5.0) Increases Aluminum solubility in the soil High Aluminum in soil precipitates Phosphorus (P) out of the soil solution Exchangeable Aluminum in soil displaces Calcium and Magnesium
19	Soil pH and Nutrient Availability High soil pH due to natural limestone or over-application of lime Aluminum is insoluble Increases Calcium and Magnesium availability DECREASES Iron availability
20	Vine Establishment
21	Newly set Vines As a general guideline 4 oz to 6 oz (10-10-10) 8 to 12” away, 7 to 10 days after planting/plant Do not apply Nitrogen fertilizer after 1 July
22	Vine Establishment (2^nd Year) Non-irrigated vineyards: Apply fertilizer around the base of each vine after vines have begun active shoot growth Apply about 1 lb of a balanced fertilizer per vine Do not let fertilizer contact any green tissue
23	Vine Establishment (2^nd Year) Irrigated vineyards: Multiple applications during the growing season Inject through irrigation system Place fertilizer in wetted soil under emitter Last application about Aug 15^th or Sep 1^st, depending on location
24	Mature Vines
25	Maintenance Nutrition Monitor status through soil tests (every fall) as well as petiole tests (60 – 70 days post-bloom) Soil test shows only what is present in the soil but pH affects actual availability Petiole tests show actual current nutrient status of the vines Sample areas with symptoms separately
26	Amount of Nutrients (lb) Removed for Ton of Grapes Harvested (Literature averages)
27	Petiole sampling every year at Veraison, early in the day 75-100 petioles, opposite from flower cluster or from youngest fully expanded leaf wash to remove spray residues, soil etc keep sample cool, ship immediately or dry sample vines with symptoms separately
28
29
30
31
32	Nutrition All nutrients need to be present in the correct amount too much is as destructive as is too little use fertilizer that has lowest cost per pound of nutrient, but avoid acidifying ingredients in high amounts (ammonium nitrate) Pictures from Peter Christensen: Diagnosing, Monitoring and Meeting Wine Grape Mineral Nutrition Requirements
33	Nitrogen (N) Used in largest amount Most limiting element Affects most aspects of vine growth and fruit production 40-100 lbs/acre for mature vines based on soil type and vigor split applications
34	Nitrogen (N) When Nitrogen is LOW Reduced canopy fill Reduced light interception Reduced photosynthetic efficiency When Nitrogen is HIGH Over-vigorous vines Increased shading Reduced fruit quality Reduced bud fruitfulness
35	Nitrogen application Recommendation: 80 to 100 lbs of actual N per acre for mature vineyards per acre Split application 40 units at 6” growth stage 40 units at anthesis
36
37
38
39
40
41	Phosphorus (P) Immobile in soil Part of nucleoproteins and phospholipids Reduction in leaf photosynthesis Apply PRE-PLANT, 500-1000 lbs/acre Maintenance applications based on petiole analyses
42
43	Potassium (K) Influences yield, juice pH, quality Yield reduction due to reduced vegetative growth if deficient Applications should be dependent on both soil and petiole analyses Balance of K, Na, Ca, Mg; soil pH Mature vines: 50 -100 lbs per acre and year
44	Interpreting K deficiencies in the East Target value in the petiole: 2% for mature fruiting vines. Soil pH affects availability Mg availability increases with soil pH and competes with K uptake
45
46
47
48
49
50	Magnesium (Mg) Present in Chlorophyll Too much K prevents uptake Dolomitic lime stone if soil pH is low (1-2 tons per acre) Epsom salt 5 -10 lbs in 100 gal water; spray 3 times post bloom, 2 weeks apart 50-100 lbs MgO per acre and year
51
52
53	Micronutrients Boron (B) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Iron (Fe) Copper (Cu)
54	Micronutrients Often present in the soil but not available apply as foliar sprays based on petiole analysis or when symptoms are detected B can easily become toxic, B and Zn deficiency symptoms are similar B deficiency can be temporarily induced by cold weather during bloom
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67	Applying Fertilizer soil applications: broadcast vs banding apply at or just after bud break apply at bud break and right after bloom for split applications Drip injection - Fertigation Foliar applications: effective immediately mostly for micro nutrients apply before and up to bloom
68	Calculating fertilizer amounts Nitrogen: Pounds of fertilizer material per acre= Pounds of N recommended *100 % of N in fertilizer material
69	Calculating fertilizer amounts 50 lb actual N per acre recommendation: using ammonium sulfate at 21% N 50 * 100 / 21 = 238 lb apply 238 lb of ammonium sulfate per acre
70	How much to apply per vine Spacing 8’ x 9’ = 605 vines/acre Recommendation = 238 lb product/acre Per vine = (238 lb/acre ÷ 605 vines/acre) 0.40 lbs/vine Or 180 grams/vine around the root zone within the weed-free strip
71	Calculating fertilizer amounts 50 lb actual K per acre recommendation: using muriate of potash at 50% K 50 * 100 / 50 = 100 lb apply 100 lb of muriate of potash per acre
72	Combination fertilizers 5 : 13 : 6 stands for 5% N, 13% P₂O₅, 6% K₂O 200 lb bag contains: 2005 /100 = 10 lb actual N 20013/100 = 26 lb actual P₂O₅ 200*6/100 = 12 lb actual K₂O
73	Foliar Analysis Labs
74	Questions?