Vineyard nutrient needs vary with rootstocks and soils. (Special issue: Sustainable viticulture. Wine grapes go green.)

摘要

Identical sets of 14 rootstocks (Vitis spp.) were evaluated in California, USA, for nutrient status (mineral content) and growth characteristics on 3 different soils. Two vineyards were located in the Sacramento River Delta near the town of Hood; the scion was Chardonnay on Egbert clay (sandy loam variant) soils at one vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon on Tinnin loamy sand soils at the other. A third vineyard was in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley, and the scion was Zinfandel on a Sierra sandy loam soil. The rootstocks had a significant impact on petiole levels of N and K throughout the growing season. Pruning weight and fruit yield also varied considerably by rootstock and site. However, the rootstock performance was not consistent among sites, nor was the seasonal pattern of change in N and K consistent among sites. The observed differences emphasize the impact of soil texture and nutrient availability on plant growth. Further studies will help guide the development of site-specific sustainable fertilizer application regimes.