Monitoring and Meeting Wine Grape Mineral Nutrition Needs in Santa Cruz Districts Peter Christensen Viticulture Specialist, Emeritus Department of Viticulture and Enology University of California, Davis
Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies and Excesses in Grapes Macronutrients Nitrogen Potassium Phosphorus Magnesium Calcium Sulfur Micronutrients Zinc Boron Iron Manganese Copper Molybdenum
Monitoring Mineral Nutrition Knowledge of: Site/Soil characteristics and chemistry Vineyard design requirements Fertilizer inputs Cultural practices Tissue analysis Observation and judgment
SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS ph - Salinity - Permeability - Toxicity - Cation Exchange - Acidity and alkalinity Potassium Calcium Magnesium
SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS -- OTHER Amending Baseline nutrient levels Lime or gypsum requirement Background information and awareness
Vineyard Soil Analysis Nutrient Status Limitations: Rootstock Variety Soil depth Root distribution Soil water status Crop load Soil pests Soil Chemistry / nutrient availability
Opposite Cluster Petiole Sample Bloom
Recently Mature Leaf Petiole Sample Midsummer
Tissue Analysis Limitations Nitrate-N Differs by cultivar, region, and weather Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Zinc Boron Manganese Iron Critical levels are more consistent Lack of relationship to symptoms Easy contamination
Petiole Nitrate Levels Wine Grapes HIGH Malbec Merlot Grenache White Riesling Sauvignon blanc Chenin blanc MEDIUM Pinot noir Cabernet Sauvignon Carignane Ruby Cabernet Zinfandel Chardonnay Semillon LOW Barbera French Colombard Gewurztraminer Pinot blanc- Melon
Nitrate-N N Status and Rootstocks HIGH 039-16 Freedom St. George Ramsey MEDIUM 101-14 14 Mgt 140Ru 5BB 1103P 3309C Schwarzmann 110R 44-53M LOW SO4 Harmony 5C 1616 420A
Petiole Sampling Ease of sampling More representative Clean surface Easily washed and dried More experience and data More effective for: NO 3 -N Total-N P K Mg Zn
Preliminary leaf tissue N threshold levels Bloom Veraison Harvest Petiole NO 3 -N N ppm Total N% 350 0.90 200 0.85 200 0.80 Blade Total N% --- 3.1 ---
NITROGEN (N)
Chardonnay Anderson Valley
Assessment of N Need Vine vigor Canopy density Cultural requirements of cultivar Fertilization history Soil and root conditions Laboratory analysis
N Utilization is Dynamic Vines store and remobilize N Spring levels are strongly influenced by N status in previous summer and fall N is easily leached Apply at periods of maximum uptake and demand by vegetative growth
Nitrogen Fertilization Drip Irrigation Timing: Spring to early summer and/or Post-harvest Rates, lbs N/acre: 0 High to excess vigor 10-20 High to medium 20-30 Medium 30-40 Medium-low to low *Apply in increments over time
Nitrogen Disorders
Glutamine exudate
Early Bunch Stem Necrosis
Putrescene Disorder Syrah Spring Fever
Late Bunch Stem Necrosis Waterberry
COOL TEMPS = N ACCUMULATION + INTERRUPTED ASSIMILATION Glutamine Ammonium Putrescene+ Other polyamines Spring Root Activity1 1111 Storage N Arginine
PHOSPHORUS (P)
Phosphorus Deficiency in California New viticultural areas and soil sites Enabled by drip irrigation Mostly hillsides of north coast and Sierra Nevada Low ph High iron
Phosphorus Deficiency Cabernet Sauvignon
Willamette Mite - Merlot
Leafroll Virus Pinot noir
Phosphorus Critical Values Petiole Levels (% P) Bloom Veraison Deficient Questionable Adequate Cushion <0.10 0.10-0.15 0.15 >0.15 >0.20 <0.08 0.08-0.12 0.12 >0.12 >0.15
Phosphorus Status and Rootstocks HIGH 110R 1103P Ramsey Freedom MEDIUM Harmony 5C 5BB 039-16 Schwarzmann LOW 420A 101-14Mgt 3309C
Phosphorus Deficiency Correction Rates: 0.33 lb. P/vine under drippers, 3 years 0.66 lb. P/vine unnecessary Materials: Single or Treble superphosphate Ammonium phosphate
POTASSIUM (K)
Potassium Deficiency Chardonnay
Potassium Deficiency Sauvignon blanc
Potassium Deficiency Cabernet franc
Potassium Deficiency Pinot noir
Potassium Deficiency True Deficiency Soil low availability and/or release Limited soil volume Induced Deficiency Root problems pests, drainage, compaction Low water status Heavy crop
Nutrients Removed in 1 Ton of Grapes Averages in Literature Nutrient Potassium Nitrogen Phosphorus K N P Lb/Ton 4.94 2.92 0.56 Calcium Magnesium Iron Zinc Copper Boron Ca Mg Fe Zn Cu B 1.0 0.2 0.01050 0.00065 0.00115 0.00110
K Uptake Reduced by: Low soil moisture Poor soil aeration Low ph = <5.5 High Mg interference = 4:1 Mg:K = low diffusion = K sensitive
Potassium Status and Rootstocks HIGH MEDIUM LOW Freedom St. George Schwarzmann 44-53M 1616 Harmony 039-16 101-14Mgt SO4 5C 5BB Ramsey 3309C 1103P 110R 140Ru 420A 5A
Potassium Fertilization Drip Irrigation Deficiency Lbs Potassium Sulfate (44% K) Per vine Per acre* Mild Moderate Severe 1/3 2/3 1 300 600 900 Incremental or slug application. 3x rate for furrow or sprinkler application. *908 vines per acre
Potassium Fertigation Potassium Sulfate 0-0-54 solution applicator or hand 0-0-8 liquid Chloride 0-0-63 solution applicator or hand 0-0-14 liquid Carbonate 0-0-30 Thiosulfate 0-0-25 +17S liquid acid soils liquid alkaline soils Nitrate 13-0-46 solution applicator
Potassium Critical Values Deficient Questionable Adequate Cushion Petiole Levels (% K) Bloom Veraison <1.0 <0.5 1.0-1.5 1.5 0.5-1.0 >1.5 >1.0 1.5-2.5 1.0-2.0
Magnesium Deficiency Zinfandel
ZINC (Zn)
Zinc Deficiency Low soil zinc sands cut areas Lowered availability calcareous soils high ph high P manure, corrals, poultry yards Cool temperatures
ZINC FOLIAR SPRAY 2 weeks pre-bloom to bloom Dilute application 2 to 3 lbs zinc/acre Neutral zinc 4 to 6 lbs/ac (50-52%) Zinc oxide (75-80%) 2.5 to 4 lbs/ac
BORON (B)
Boron in Vineyard Soils Deficiency Toxicity Beginning symptoms Increasing severity Severe <0.1 ppm 0.7 ppm 1 ppm 2 ppm
Boron Deficiency Early Season, Temporary Barnes Effect Drought-induced in previous fall and winter Spring to Early Summer Naturally low soil and plant status Mid to Late Summer Low soil water status
Drought-induced B Deficiency Pinot noir
Drought-induced B deficiency Chardonnay
Boron Deficiency White Riesling
Boron Deficiency White Riesling
Pinot noir Cold Weather Fruit Set
Boron Deficiency Merlot
BORON APPLICATION BROADCAST or HERBICIDE BAND FOLIAR DRIP Monitor with tissue analysis 4 lb B/acre 2-33 years ½ to 1 lb B/acre Annual 1 lb B/acre Initial ½ lb Annual
BORON APPLICATION WITH DRIP IRRIGATION Vine uptake of drip-applied B is rapid. 1-lb B/acre can be safely applied to mature vines with single application. Equivalent to 5 lbs 20.5% B product Annual application of 1-lb 1 B per acre applied for 3 or 4 years may be excessive. For maintenance, apply ½ lb B every year. B can be applied any time of year. Monitor with tissue analysis.
BORON FOLIAR SPRAY Fall sprays Increase B content of dormant bud tissue. Most effective in eliminating fruit symptoms. Leaves are more tolerant of applied B. Single application of 1 lb B/acre can be used. Pre-bloom and bloom sprays Only 1/2 B/acre is safe with each application Only partially effective in preventing fruit symptoms
BORON TISSUE LEVELS BLOOM PETIOLES Deficient below 25 ppm Questionable 26 30 Possible excess above 100 BLADES Toxicity above 250 ppm
Boron toxicity Merlot
Iron Chlorosis Syrah
Bloom Iron Levels ppm Cabernet Sauvignon/110R Symptom Severity None Mild Moderate Severe Paso Robles Petioles 29 20 23 21 ns Blades 54 78 49 54 ns
Lime-induced Chlorosis Rootstock Tolerance Rootstock Parentage % CaCO 3 Fercal berlandieri x vinifera >50 41B 40 140Ru berlandieri x rupestris 20-30 5BB, 420A berlandieri x riparia 20 5C, SO4 17 1103P berlandieri x rupestris 17 99R, 110R 17 Rupestris St. Geo. rupestris 14 3309C, 101-14Mgt riparia x rupestris 11
Manganese Deficiency