WHAT IS NEW WITH CANOPY MANAGEMENT? By Dr Richard Smart Viticulture consultant Newlyn, Cornwall vinedoctor@smartvit.com.au
ome companies are making lots of mone using it.many others are not ample Delegat Wine mpany, New Zealand oduce Oyster Bay wine ve 5,000 acres of Scott nry trellis in 2016, nverted over 7 years ve found improved yield, ality, profitability, less sease, no labor training/ anagement issues.
WE WILL DISCUSS n ideal canopy, why? actors affecting choice of trellis systems eatures of some trellis systems: VSP, Scott enry, Smart Dyson, Lyre, GDC ther canopy management practices
AN IDEAL CANOPY wth is not too vigorous ercepts much sunlight ots spaced each 2.5 in, or shoots per foot (15 shoots m) canopy ut 40 % canopy gaps, 60 % it exposure ots should be 15 nodes g, about 42 id fruit exposure to mid rnoon sun ie to west
VIGOR IS MOST IMPORTANT
SSESSING VIGOR AND TRELLIS SYSTEM r ratings: essed by pruning weight, less than 0.45 lb runing weight /ft (0.6 kg/ ), use VSP, sprawl ium, 0.45 to 0.75 lb/ft (to.0 kg/m), use Scott Henry, mart Dyson, Lyre h, more than 0.75 lb/ft (1.0 g/m), use GDC
VINE BALANCE A balanced vine ha Yield: pruning ratio (Ravaz index) of around 5:1 Mean cane weight of about 45-60 g (0.1 lb) Vine is pruned to abo 10 buds per lb pruning weight Limited lateral growth
Benefits of ideal canopy ittle leaf and fruit hading, important or yield and wine uality ess disease, ildew and otrytis, and better pray penetration
Why change trellis system? n To make more profit. n Improve yield with little change in cost n Improve fruit composition for wine making n To facilitate management
Factors affecting choice of trellis system ase and cost of conversion/installation ase of mechanisation esp harvest ield and quality potential ase of management abor requirement and ease of training workers rofitability of system usceptibility to trunk disease infection.
VERTICAL SHOOT POSITIONING VSP uited to low to moderate vigour, to about 0.45 lb/ft equires 1 fruit, 4 foliage wires, 6 ft post ex ground eed 28 in minimum post height above cordon uited to cordon training and spur pruning asy to mechanize Winter Prune (WP), Summer Prune SP), Harvest (H), Leaf Removal (LR) s overused in many regions, sadly
VERTICAL SHOOT POSITIONING
SCOTT HENRY uited to moderate vigour, say 0.45 to 0.75 lb runing weight per foot uited to cane pruning and so cooler climates equires 5 foliage wires, 2 fruiting wires, 6 ft post echanize summer prune, leaf removal, harvest ill produce typically 30% higher yield than VSP, ith improved quality
SCOTT HENRY
SMART DYSON Suited to moderate vigour, say 0.45 to 0.75 lb pruning weight per foot row Is suited to spur pruning and so warm to hot climates Shoot position bottom curtain towards west Requires 5 foliage wires, 2 fruiting wires, 6 ft post Mechanize winter prune, summer prune, leaf removal, harvest Will produce typically 30% higher yield than VSP, with improved quality Is equivalent to Scott Henry system, but with no gap between shoot zones
SMART DYSON
LYRE
LYRE Suited to moderate to high vigour, say 0.45 to 0.9 lb pruning weight per foot row Canopies should be minimum 30 inches apart Is suited to spur pruning and so warm to hot climates Requires 8 foliage wires, 2 fruiting wires, two 6 ft posts inclined, or 6 ft post ex gound with 30, 36 and 42 crossarm High installation and annual costs Mechanize winter prune??, summer prune, leaf removal??, harvest only with great difficulty Will produce typically 30% or more yield than VSP, with improved quality Fruit is more protected from sun
GENEVA DOUBLE CURTAIN
Trellis suggestions ertically Divided canopies, Scott Henry, Smart yson heap and easy to convert from VSP iming of downward shoot positioning is critical pur prune, Smart Dyson ane prune, Scott Henry oth Machine harvest well
SHOOT AND CLUSTER THINNING Shoots are best thinned early in season 3-6 long Thin clusters typically soon after set if a large amount is to be removed In reality best time to thin is the day of harvest!! Actually thinning is a loss of crop with negligible gain. Greater psychological than physiological benefit Balanced vines typically do not need thinning
LEAF REMOVAL ically done too severely A st done say 3 weeks pre aison st done by lateral oval when shoots are ut 12 long en done severely is an scessary expense and armful to sugar level n cause excessive osure, with loss of red our and high phenols in ites