Strategies for Managing Vine Nutrition Paul R. Anamosa, Ph.D. Vineyard Soil Technologies www.vineyardsoil.com 707 225-2898
Approach What is a strategy? How to start? Where have we come from? How to we put it all together?
What is a strategy? A Plan to manage resources based on a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the natural and economic environment. A strategy is not just a tactic It requires a baseline knowledge underlying influences
How to start? What is your environment? Soil & climate What are the properties of your soils? Texture, structure, ph, EC, nutrients What are the yield and quality objectives of your vineyard? What are the realistic economic constraints. Short & Long-term management budgets. What are the relative cost and benefits of the tools you have.
Where have we come from in soil fertility management? Pilgrim fish fertilizer Albrecht's Balanced Cation Saturation Ratios Sufficient Levels of Available Nutrients Harvested Nutrient Replacement Plant Based Adequacy and Deficiency Levels
Albrecht's Balanced Cation Saturation Ratio Establishes cation ratios based on empirical data for optimal production of US Mid-Western corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and wheat. Calcium: 60-70% Magnesium: 10-20% Potassium: 2-5% Sodium: 0.5-3% Hydrogen: 10-15%
Albrecht's Balanced Cation Saturation Ratio Based on maximum yield concepts and assumed maximal soil health as related to soil structure, hence the high calcium range to maintain soil structural aggregation. Recognized low ph as being problematic and recommended lime to raise calcium. Did not recognize aluminum as toxic. Recognized high calcium could induce magnesium deficiencies, but assumed that magnesium was not deficient at 10-15% of CEC. Did not address phosphorus well because the various stages of complexation with Ca, Fe, and Al were not understood at that time. Bio-availability poorly understood. Mentioned but did not address micro-nutrients well. Method was not plant based and thus did not address differences in the nutritional needs of different plants.
Albrecht's Balanced Cation Saturation Ratio Relevant at the time. Keep in mind he was active in the 1930-1950 s when soil degradation was high due to excessive extraction of nutrition and reduction in soil organic matter content. Expensive to apply amendments to reach ranges. Now (2016) there is so much more information on soil chemistry, soil physics and plant physiology processes that many of his theories have been disproved, discarded, and/or EVOLVED, and are so much more highly refined that they are difficult to credit back to just Albrecht. Stuck in time Dogma that Albrecht would probably reject if living today. We know a lot more now. Embrace new knowledge.
Ca:Mg ratio Taken from CEC data can lead to false interpretation, especially if ph is above 7.0 and there is free lime due to dissolution of the lime and libration of much more calcium in the extractant that was naturally occurring in the soil. Ammonium acetate buffered to 7.0 will act as a acid on soils with ph greater than 7.0 this dissolving solid calcium carbonate and adding calcium to the system (laboratory remnant). Typically there is soil structural degradation if Mg exceeds 40% of CEC, but Mg at 10-15% of CEC is usually too low for grapes and will show deficiencies.
Impact of Free lime on Ca:Mg ratio in Saturated Paste and NH4-Acetate ph 7.0 Extractable Cations Sample H2O Saturation Extract Extractable Cations NH4-Acetate ph 7.0 Extractable Cations ds/m meq/l meq/l meq/l Free meq/100g Percentage of CEC mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg Profile Layer Depth (in) ph ECe Ca Mg Ca:Mg Lime CEC Ca Mg Ca:Mg K Ca Mg K Na 8 1 0 12 7.5 0.4 2.3 0.1 28.8 High 40.1 94 3 32.2 2 7578 143 379 23 8 2 12 24 7.7 0.3 1.7 0.1 20.6 High 41.6 96 2 39.7 1 7985 122 238 25 8 3 24 34 8.2 0.2 1.0 0.1 12.5 High 26.9 95 3 29.4 1 5141 106 61 56 9 1 0 17 7.6 0.5 4.2 0.3 17.0 High 45.5 94 4 23.9 1 8598 218 224 44 9 2 17 30 7.8 0.4 2.9 0.3 11.8 High 32.1 94 4 24.1 1 6070 153 155 27 9 3 30 52 7.9 0.6 3.5 0.2 21.8 High 29.2 96 2 41.0 1 5607 83 95 62 11 1 0 14 7.5 0.4 3.2 0.4 7.8 High 42.4 93 6 16.5 1 7866 290 246 38 11 2 14 22 7.3 0.4 2.4 0.3 7.1 High 42.8 89 9 9.8 1 7621 472 233 58 11 3 22 32 7.4 0.3 1.2 0.2 7.2 0 34.6 89 9 9.5 1 6151 394 144 60 12 1 0 20 7.6 0.4 3.6 0.2 22.8 High 41.9 96 3 36.5 1 8060 134 167 38 12 2 20 32 8.0 0.3 2.5 0.1 29.8 High 21.4 98 1 101.9 0 4200 25 27 34 12 3 32 60 8.2 0.3 2.2 0.1 27.5 High 23.2 98 1 95.5 0 4566 29 16 39 14 1 0 15 7.7 0.6 4.7 0.4 11.4 High 37.2 94 4 22.6 1 7015 188 206 30 14 2 15 34 8.1 0.3 1.5 0.2 9.1 High 28.5 94 4 21.8 0 5384 150 48 58 14 3 34 60 8.1 0.3 1.3 0.1 15.6 High 33.2 95 4 26.9 0 6292 142 64 98 15 1 0 17 7.8 0.4 2.8 0.3 11.4 High 46.0 95 3 28.0 1 8763 190 162 63 15 2 17 32 8.0 0.3 1.6 0.1 19.4 High 33.0 96 2 45.4 1 6360 85 98 73 15 3 32 60 8.0 0.3 1.7 0.1 21.3 High 37.3 96 2 42.8 1 7192 102 96 86 16 1 0 18 7.5 0.5 3.5 0.4 8.5 High 38.7 90 8 11.3 1 6989 374 212 55 16 2 18 32 6.6 0.4 2.0 0.6 3.4 0 43.9 80 18 4.4 1 6994 963 226 109 16 3 32 60 6.9 0.3 1.0 0.3 4.0 0 19.1 78 19 4.1 2 2970 442 137 71
As ph drops below 5.5 hydrogen becomes more prominent on the CEC and skews data Very low Marginally Low High Excessively High Saturation Extract Extractable Nutrients Extractable Cations Method > S-1.00 S-1.10 S-2.30 S-3.10 S-4.10 S-4.20 S-5.10 S-6.10 S-15.10 S-6.10 S-10.10 S-5.10 S-5.10 Sample ds/m mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg meq/100g Percent of CEC Ratio Profile Layer Depth (in) Sat% ph ECe NO 3 -N POlsen P Bray K Zn Al Ni CEC Ca Mg Ca:Mg 1 1 0 9 48 4.7 0.2 2.8 56 100 295 2.5 89 0.2 22.8 47 21 2.2 1 2 9 27 57 4.0 0.4 6.9 3 7 101 0.3 990 0.1 19.3 18 20 0.9 2 1 0 13 51 6.2 0.3 1.2 4 4 385 2.5 0.1 20.8 66 21 3.1 2 2 13 28 50 4.6 0.2 0.7 2 6 314 0.4 308 0.2 20.4 35 28 1.2 2 3 28 60 77 4.2 0.2 8.4 1 1 281 0.1 1560 0.1 16.9 8 18 0.5 3 1 0 13 49 4.9 0.5 0.8 6 18 174 2.8 34 0.2 18.6 53 24 2.2 3 2 13 24 39 4.4 0.4 2.1 4 12 100 0.2 425 0.1 15.1 36 22 1.6 4 1 0 14 53 4.9 0.5 1.6 3 5 157 0.7 62 0.4 19.8 51 24 2.1 4 2 14 25 75 4.2 0.3 1.4 1 1 149 0.3 1512 0.1 20.6 16 23 0.7 4 3 25 40 70 4.2 0.2 5.2 1 1 72 0.2 2710 0.1 20.1 4 19 0.2 Requires dolomitic lime (calcium magnesium carbonate) for ph and gypsum for neutralization of the aluminum.
Sufficient Levels of Available Nutrients Assumes that nutrients extracted with specific extractants can measure bio-availability of that nutrient for an entire season. Assumed cation ratios were of less importance than total or bio-available concentrations. Many bio-availability extractants developed in 1960 s and 70 s. Many are regional due to other over-riding soil characteristics (soil ph, soil mineralogy, petty politics). Example Phosphorus: West: Olsen (soil ph > 6.5) Mid-west: Bray (soil ph < 6.5) Southeast: Melich I, II, III (soil ph < 6.5) and highly weathered Fe and Al soils. Requires that user know if bio-available test is appropriate (i.e. Bray or Olsen Phosphorus; or hot or cold water Boron). Requires strong soil chemistry and physics background to understand interactions (impacts of low or high ph, free lime. Still soil based and not plant based.
Sufficient Levels of Available Nutrients (SLAN) Bio-availability over long-term is very difficult to determine with a 5 minute extraction. Still used to determine soil fertility status. Useful to recommend potential pre-plant applications Provides good ball-park estimates of bio-availability. Provides continued research subject for refinement for Assistant professors trying to get tenure.
Plant Based Methods Nutrient Replacement to replace nutrients removed with harvest crop. Tissue Critical Levels to define deficient, adequate, and excessive
Re-supplies those nutrients harvested and removed from land. Method: Measure nutrient content of harvested crop Add nutrients to replace those removed Nutrient Replacement
Too simplistic. Nutrient Replacement Assumes the production system is at adequate for all nutrients no deficiencies. Many nutrients are in gross abundance in the soil that can be readily supplied without degradation in fertility so replacement application may result inover fertilization. Many nutrients are leached or made relatively unavailable upon application to the soils under fertilization. Bio-availability of added nutrient is different from the same nutrient in the mature soil and may be much more or less available that those removed with crop.
Micro-Nutrients Most micro-nutrients are in very low concentrations in soils. They are frequently bound into low-availability complexes with other soil components. Dissolution rate may not keep up with demand. Fertilizer formulations have different bioavailabilities than soil forms.
Tissue Critical Levels Plant based measures what the plant is feeling. Does not depend on bio-availability extractants. Allows manager to add small increments based on snap-shot in time. Allows manager to see potential deficiencies in the near future.
Idealized nutrient impact on plant growth Relative Growth (%) 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Deficient Adequate Luxury Consumption Growth Toxic 0 5 10 15 20 Nutrient Concentration
Rule of most limiting nutrient The most limited or deficient nutrient will control plant growth. As the concentration of this limited nutrient is increased due to increased bioavailability, vine growth then will be limited by the next nutrient to become deficient. Growth Phosphorus added Start of Phosphorus deficiency Nitrogen added Start of Nitrogen deficiency Time
Lag Time The Lag Time is the time between application of a nutrient and its apparent uptake by plants. The Lag Time is dependent on: the rate of transformation of that nutrient from unavailable to bioavailable; and/or the movement of the nutrient towards roots capable of uptake.
Putting it all together: Strategy for Managing Vine Nutrition and Soil Fertility Vineyard Soil Survey soil properties, soil variation across the landscape. This is best done prior to planting to assist in design to compartmentalize similar soils in the same block. Properties: Texture, structure, rock content, Total Available Water (TAW), ph, EC, SAR, Extractable nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg. If needed, you can skip micro-nutrients because their bio-availability analysis are not very reliable. Use petiole data. Use a qualified soil scientist not just a viticulturist with a class or two in soil science ask about qualifications.
Vineyard Soil Survey Identify problems: clay layers, rock, very low or high ph, low nutrient levels. Identify how you expect to approach each problem. For instance clay layers will restrict rooting and upset water availability depending on structure. High rock content near the surface will lower vigor. Spread rootzone horizontally with emitters. Apply Phosphorus in the planting hole. It doesn t leach, so it won t go anywhere and it is much easier to place in hole than drip applications that require you to saturate the top 4-6 of soil with phosphorus before you reach the rootzone.
Plant tissue analysis Choose critical values carefully. Fertilizer companies will use higher critical values than labs or independent consultants. Choose plant part to be tested carefully: Blades are best for toxicities; Petioles for deficiencies. Season: Bloom is not as good as Veraison for detection, but allows for correction in that season. Veraison is better than Bloom and will more likely detect nutrients that became deficient later in season. Critical Data sets are most complete for Bloom Petioles
N NO3-N Cl P K Mg Ca Description Total Nitrate Chloride Total Potassium Magnesium Calci Block / Variety Nitrogen Nitrogen Phosphorus Rootstock / Growth Stage % ppm % % % % % 1 ABC / CS 420A / VERAISON 0.40 15 0.15 0.31 3.57 0.53 3.1 3 / CS 3309C / VERAISON 0.50 19 0.28 0.11 5.96 0.66 1.8 4 / CS 3309C / VERAISON 0.50 38 0.43 0.23 5.91 0.89 2.4 5 / CS 3309C / VERAISON 0.44 15 0.32 0.05 2.57 0.27 1.1 6 / CS 3309C / VERAISON 0.51 25 0.30 0.27 7.10 0.45 2.0 / / / / Deficient < 0.4 < 25 < 0.05 < 0.75 < 0.10 < 1. Marginal 0.4-0.5 25-50 0.05-0.15 0.75-1.0 0.10-0.20 1.0 - Adequate 0.5-0.7 50-200 0.15-0.40 1.0-1.5 0.20-0.40 1.5 - Elevated 0.7-1.0 200-400 > 0.50 0.40-0.60 1.5-3.0 0.4-0.6 2.5 - Excessive > 1.0 > 400 > 1.0 > 0.60 > 3.0 >0.6 > 3.
Visual Symptoms See OSU Web-Site: http://wine.oregonstate.edu/vineyard Then look at the bottom of page for: Vineyard Nutrition Module
Addressing Deficiencies Identify all deficient and excessive nutrients. Identify fertilizers with just deficient nutrients. Consider fertilizers with other compounds if they are appreciably less expensive and are adding a nutrient that is close to being deficient. Avoid adding nutrients that are already excessive (especially N and K). Alleviate all nutrient deficiencies other than nitrogen.
Addressing the Impact of Adverse Soil Properties High free lime will co-precipitate P, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn. These nutrients can be liberated from the lime by acidifying the soil with either elementatl sulfur prior to planting (impact 4 to 8 years) or continously injecting acid in the irrigatoin water to lower ph to 6.8. Peeling an onion. Excessively low ph values (diatomatious earth) will need lime (calcium carbonate) and gypusm (calcium sulfate). Lime wil raiste the surface soil ph. Gypsum will provide sulfate to complex the aluminum in the subsoil and render it non-toxic. Acumulations of excessive salts will raise EC. Problematic if above 1.5 very serious above 2.5. If soil and water have high sodium (>5meq/L) and/or SAR values (> 6), the soil structure is under threat of degredation. Add Calcium sulfate to rebalance SAR downward and maintain stucture and drainage.
Limit Nitrogen Use Nitrogen deficiency as help to control vigor. Especially convenient in areas with summer rains. Why Nitrogen: Readily limits vigor Easy and cheap to apply Fast vine recovery when applied
Easy Nitrogen Diagnosis ^ Basal leaf is darker than mid-cane (adequate nitrogen) ^ Basal leaf is lighter or same color as mid-cane (low to deficient nitrogen) ^
Phosphorous Phosphorus is not a readily available fertilizer as only phosphorus (phosphoric acid). Caustic! So look for other nearly deficient nutreints that are also needed: Ammonium Phosphates (liquid and soluble dry) Mono-Potassium phosphate Pre-plant: mix 2-3 oz/vine of 12-61-0 into the planting hole to allow immediate availability and avoid having to fertilizer the top 4-6 inches. Organic Phosphorus: Mix 1 pound of Acidified Rock Phosphate or Bone-meal into planting hole last for a long time (10+ years).
Phosphorous Injecting Phosphrous as a liquid can be problematinc due to water quality. If the water calcium concentations are greater than 2 meq/l, the water should be acidified to ph 4 during the injection period to avoid precipiateion of calcium phosphate. Onced formed, calcium phosphates in the emitter are essentially impossible to dissoleve and the emitters must be repolaced. If soils have high amounts of free lime, acidify water to at least ph 5 during injection to partially dissolve free lime and avoid immediate precipitation of the phosphorus.
Applications Methods Apply macro-nutrients to the soil: N, P, K, Ca, Mg Apply micro-nutrients foliarly: Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Mo
Foliar - Macro-Nutrients To increase Zn from 30 ppm to 50 ppm takes 2 quarts of a 10% solution. To increase Potassium from 1.30% to 1.50% is equivalent to raising K from 13,000 ppm to 15,000 ppm or an increase of 2,000 ppm K. This requires very high volumes of spray applications. Much research shows foliar applicatons of N, P, K is ineffective. Small amount of research shows it to be marginally effective, but only for slight deficiencies. Most grape leaves reduce their ability to absorb nutrients with age as wax cuticle thickens. Best not to apply foliarly after veraison.
Micro-Nutrients Always add Micro-nutrients as a foliar spray. Soils with free lime may need 2 or 3 treatments per year. Be leery of anyone that recommends soil application of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), or Copper (Cu). The soil is already composed of a lot of Iron. So if the vine is not getting enough, adding more to the soil will probably result in more un-available iron. Zinc is typically low in soil (0.2 to 1.0 ppm Zn-DTPA), but is readily complexed into non-available soil forms. Very small amounts (1 2 quarts/acre) of foliar Zinc, Copper, and Boron are typically sufficient to overcome nutrient deficiencies. This requires annual applications, but can be tank mixed with just about every fungicide available. Soils with free lime may need 2 or 3 treatments per year. Molybdenum is frequently deficient in Malbec and Merlot and will increase berry set. Use very low rates (1 pint/acre of 5% Mo solution alternate years).
Considerations for Organic Farming Start with a vineyard development plan Put phosphorus (rock-phosphate or bone-meal) in the planting hole in rather large quantities low solubility so it will stay there a long time with low EC. Super-fine ground (colloidal) rock phosphate that can be put through drip is available 0-12-0, but is expensive and requires that you saturate the top 4-6 inches before you reach rootzone. Super-fine ground potassium sulfate (0-0-50) is available. Use mixed grass-legume cover-crops for free nitrogen Compost is expensive with low levels of P and K. Consider other more cost effective sources of P and K, coupled with covercrop for grow-your-own organic mater.
Strategy Components Know Thy Soil helps to identify probable nutrient deficiencies and other structural and water delivery problems. Sit down and develop a Nutrition Management Plan, rather than crisis applications after petiole data each year. Take petioles to monitor vine nutrition and fine tune fertilization plan. Use Nitrogen to limit vigor alleviate all other deficiencies. Put Macro-nutrients through the drip or in planting hole; Apply Micro-nutrients as foliar sprays.