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Vine Nutrition…a major role in the life of a vineyard!

Chris Clark, CCA

Territory Sales Representative

Haily Henderson, CCA

NMP/GPS Specialist & Agronomist

A g e n d a

• Soil • How to sample

• Sample submission sheet

• Lab analysis & results

• Interpretation

• Plant• How to sample

• Sample submission sheet

• Lab analysis & results

• Interpretation

• Why it is important to Fertilize

Soil Sampling How to Soil Sample• Collect a composite sample of 10-20 cores throughout

each block, grape variety, or management zones• Representative sample consists of several sub-samples collected

throughout the plot

• Record sample sites• Samples can be collected from the same location in subsequent

years• Provides effective comparison from year-to-year

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What to…

NOT do…• Sample from abnormal portions of the field

• wet lowlands or sandy knobs

• Sample around one vine

• Sample how you want, when you want, where you want

Do…• If abnormalities: collect a separate sample from abnormal

area and compare to rest of field

• Make sure your samples are consistent• all about 6-7 inches• Remove debris, rocks, and other foreign material from sample

Filling Out Submission Forms

• Every sample needs a form

• Provide as much info as you know• Have a unique soil type?

Let the lab know!

• Double check: does info match sample bags

• Use online forms• Print a copy for your

records and one for lab

At the Lab: Soil AnalysisSoil Analysis Interpretation

The “Ideal” Soil

• Texture: sandy to gravelly (warm up fast & well-drained)

• pH: 5.5-6.5• American grapes = more acidic (5-6)• European grapes = more neutral (6-7)

• P = 25 ppm• K = 100 ppm

• Don’t want too fertile, which can• Promote too much vegetative growth• Reduce fruit production• Increase chances of winter injury• Delay coloring and ripening

• ROT: use half of the fertilizer recommended for other fruits and ornamentals• Better to under-fertilize than to over fertilize

Soil Tests Show Nutrient Status….But pH Affects Availability

Optimum soil range for most crops

Optimum soil range for grapes

(depending on variety)

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Soil Properties

Soil Property Desired Range

Soil pH 6.0-7.0

Soil Salinity < 4.0 dS/m

Organic Matter 3-6%

Phosphorous (P) 20-50 ppm

Potassium (K) 75-150 ppm

Calcium (Ca) 500-2000 ppm

Soil Property Desired Range

Magnesium (Mg) 100-250 ppm

Boron (B) 0.3-2.0 ppm

Iron (Fe) 20 ppm

Manganese (Mn) 20 ppm

Zinc (Zn) 4-5 ppm

Source: Grape Grower’s Handbook

Let’s look at the example vineyard soil report

Organic Matter (OM)• Measure of the decaying plant/animal matter

• Most productive agricultural soils have between 3 and 6%

• Sources include: crop residues, animal manure, cover crops, green manure, perennial grasses, and legumes• The quickest increase is obtained from compost or semi-solid manure.

• Benefits • Increases soil’s ability to hold and supply nutrients overtime Ca, Mg, and K • Accelerates decomposition into plant available nutrient forms• Source of food for soil organisms• Enhances soil microbial diversity and activity which can help in the

suppression of diseases and pests• Enhances pore space through the actions of soil microorganisms. This helps

to increase infiltration and reduce runoff• Improves water holding capacity• Reduces the stickiness of clay soils making them easier to till• Reduces surface crusting, facilitating seedbed preparation

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

• Measures the holding capacity of your soil texture (the amount and type of clay and OM)

• The higher the number, the more water, nutrients, and pesticides your soil can hold (heavier soil type)

CEC Soil Texture

0-8 Sand

9-12 Loamy Sand

13-20 Sandy/Silty Loam

21-28 Loam

29-40 Clay Loam

>40 Clay

Nitrogen (N)

• N = issue on most vineyards, especially lighter soils with low organic matter (OM)• N levels in soil are always changing; determine N status

visually looking at vegetative vigor and leave characteristics and results of recent tissue test

• How much to apply? 𝑴𝒂𝒙 𝑵 = 𝑪𝑬𝑪 ∗ 𝟏𝟎

• This will tell you roughly how much nitrogen your soil can hold at any one time

• Common rec: 40-100 lbs/acre actual N split over growing season• Option 1: Apply just after spring thaw and mid-June

• Option 2: Apply at bud break or post bud break and during bloom

Nitrogen (N)• How much to apply? (cont.)

• Sources:• Urea (46-0-0)

• Ammonium Sulfate (21-0-0-24S)

𝑭𝒆𝒓𝒕.𝑵 =𝒍𝒃𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑵 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎

%𝑵 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆

• Recommendation: 25 pounds of actual N = how much urea?

25∗100

46= 54 lb urea

Example

Phosphorus (P)• P = important for flower and fruit formation and

differentiation• Typical WI soils have adequate P

• Just because it’s in the soil does not mean the plant can get it

• Hint from the Lab: Low P status in grapevines may be best diagnosed by comparing leaf and petiole P at véraison because P will generally occur at a similar or higher concentration in petioles compared to leaf blades when P is adequate

• Base maintenance fertilizer applications from recent soil and petiole test

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Potassium (K)

• K = Watch for low K levels in high yielding vines or after drought

• Typical grape harvest removal = 4.94 lbs/acre of K• Did you know: It takes 5-7 lbs of K2O to increase the soil

test 1 ppm

• Be aware if a vineyard is cropped to very low yields one year, it is easy to over apply K fertilizers, which may lead to increased pH

• Common fertilizer rate for mature vines 50-100 lbs/acre P• Response is greatest with 2-ft bands beneath trellis vs broadcasting

Magnesium (Mg) & Boron (B)• Mg = Too much K (very common problem in WI soils)

prevents Mg uptake by vines• Soil report may say you have Mg but plants cannot uptake • Typical fertilizer broadcast 100-500 lbs/acre Mg Sulfate

• B = Some regions have low B due to low B levels in soil• If needed, foliar sprays of B to the vine canopy in spring,

prior to bloom, or later in the season (post-harvest)• It is recommended to apply these sprays at low doses to prevent

toxicity

• Keep soil test B level above 0.5 ppm• Maintain pH to keep B available

Other Key Nutrients • Zinc (Zn)

• Low Zn can be associated with high Mg levels

• Foliar sprays of Zn are applied in dormancy with a follow-up spring spray if deficiency is severe.

• Sulfur (S) • Low sulfur is more and more common in WI • Air is getting cleaner; no more free sulfur

deposits

• Mn, Ca, and Fe are normally not deficient in WI soils

• Hint from the Lab: everything in moderation; too much is just as destructive as too little.

Sulfur Deposits (1985 vs 2008)

How much to Apply?• Determine your spacing

• Example 8’ X 9’ = 605 vines/acre

• What was the fertilizer rec• Example 238 lbs/acre ÷ 605 vines/acre

RESULT= Apply 0.40 lbs/vine

Apply at:

Bud-break

Post bud-break

During bloom

Tissue Sampling

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How to Plant Sample

• Collect two sets of samples (one normal and one abnormal) for comparison• 1 sample = about 20 leaves/petioles

• Collect most developed leaves• Unless abnormality occurs in newest leaves

• Try to remember• Location of abnormalities

• On the plant

• In the field

What to…

• NOT do…• Wash leaves off

• Put in plastic bag

• Ship out Friday (over the weekend)

• Do…• Let samples air dry(if collected in morning dew)

• Put in PAPER bag

• Ship at the beginning of the week

• Keep sampling time consistent

• Take a visual assessment

Questions as you walk your vineyard• Are leaf symptoms on bottom, middle, or top leaves on vines?

• Are symptoms on exterior or interior leaves only?• Are symptoms on some individual shoots or on all shoots of a

vine?

• Are leaf symptoms on leaf margins (edge) or some other distinct pattern?

• Are vines with symptoms clustered together or scattered throughout the vineyard, or are they just on the edge rows?

• Are vines associated with any topographic character of the site, such as a swale or hilltop?

• What is the time of year or growth stage when symptoms appear?• spring as shoots are beginning to grow, early summer around

flowering time, late summer as clusters begin ripening, or in fall at or after harvest?

Element Mobility

Source: Grape Grower’s Handbook

Element Mobility Where Deficiency Symptoms First Appear

N, P, K, Mg, Na, and Cl Very good Old leaves

Mn Variable Young and mid-stem leaves

S, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mo Very little Young leaves

Ca, B Very little to none Young leaves and growing tip

• Not every time the leaf turns a color!

• Annual tissue testing is an important tool to detect what you cannot see.

Filling out submission sheet At the Lab:Tissue Analysis

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Tissue Analysis Interpretation

Sufficiency Ranges: Grapevine Tissue Analysis (collected at Full Bloom)

Nutrient Petioles Leaf Blades

Nitrogen (%) 1.2-2.8 2.5-3.5

Phosphorous (%) 0.17-0.60 0.15-0.45

Potassium (%) 1.5-5.0 0.75-1.5

Calcium (%) 0.4-3.0 1.0-3.0

Magnesium (%) 0.13-0.50 0.25-0.50

Manganese (ppm) 18-100 30-100

Iron (ppm) 30-180 >75

Boron (ppm) 25-50 30-100

Copper (ppm) 5-15 6-20

Zinc (ppm) 20-100 25-100

Molybdenum (ppm) 0.20-0.50 N/A

Source: Grape Grower’s Handbook

4 Things to Know About Nutrient Imbalances

1. Many nutrient imbalances share similar symptoms

2. Your plants may suffer from multiple deficiencies at the same time

3. Other plant problems may cause symptoms that are similar to nutrient imbalances• Some diseases produce similar symptoms to nutrient imbalances

• Too much or too little water

• Soil compaction

• Insect attack can also mimic nutrient imbalance symptoms.

• Pesticide (including herbicide) damage can also produce similar symptoms

• Symptoms may just respond and look different on different species

4. Nutrient imbalances may be silent before symptoms become visible; Utilize regular tissue testing

Tissue Test Results & Interpretation

• It is important to sample at the proper growth stage

Concentration Affected by Time

Decreases Stable Increases

Nitrogen Magnesium Calcium

Phosphorus (slight) Iron

Potassium Copper

Zinc Manganese

Boron

Why is it important to fertilize?

• Cost (BEST ROI fertilize based on recent tests)

• Typical grape harvest removal =• Takes 5-7 lbs of K2O to increase the soil test 1 ppm

• The older the vine, the more N required

• Fertilizer carryover

• Timing fertilizer applications (A1656)

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Our take away message…

• Grapevine nutrition plays a major role in the life of a vineyard. Nutrients found in the soil and vines must be monitored on a continual basis!

• Regular soil and tissue testing are crucial• This will avoid over application, which can

• Promote too much growth,

• Energy spent on vegetative growth rather than fruit production

• Increase susceptibility to winter injury

• Delay coloring and ripening

• Nutrient antagonism

Too much…

May cause

(nutrient) deficiency

N K

K N, Ca, Mg

Na K, Ca, Mg

Ca Mg, B

Mg Ca

Fe Mn

Mn Fe

Questions? Contact Us!

• Chris ClarkTerritory Sales RepWI-CCA715-850-2888cclark@agsource.com

• Haily HendersonNMP/GPS TechnicianWI-CCA608-397-0046hhenderson@agsource.com