Abstract
The detrimental effect of soil acidity on the performance of vines can be attributed to both P deficiency and Al toxicity stresses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different agronomical techniques applied in a vineyard of Nebbiolo to solve the problem of low productivity due to low soil pH. The effect of liming, phosphorus fertilization and pre-bloom shoot trimming on yield and bud fruitfulness was followed over a period of 3 years. Moreover, in the last year of study grape analyses were performed to assess treatments’ effect on grape quality. Results confirmed that it is possible to alleviate in part the low productivity due to low soil pH. Overall, pre-bloom shoot trimming, P fertilization, and the combination of these two treatments have been the most effective options. Regarding the differences between treatments, only the combination of pre-bloom shoot trimming and P fertilisation significantly affected bud fruitfulness and yields in comparison to untreated. Little or no effect has been observed among treatments in terms of grape composition at harvest.
Highlights
Grapevines, as many other plants, can be grown in several conditions of soil, but as pH becomes too acid there are many implications for the productivity
This study aimed to investigate the effect of different agronomical techniques applied in a vineyard of Nebbiolo to solve the problem of low productivity due to low soil pH
The effect of liming, phosphorus fertilization and pre-bloom shoot trimming on yield and bud fruitfulness was followed over a period of 3 years
Summary
Grapevines, as many other plants, can be grown in several conditions of soil, but as pH becomes too acid there are many implications for the productivity. The plants cultivated in acid soils suffer both phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity stresses [2]. P deficiency is the result of high fixation by aluminum and iron oxides and hydroxides [3]. Conradie [4] reported that the active absorption of P starts about three weeks after bud burst and stops at veraison, and a second peak period occurs from about five weeks after harvest until leaf fall. Phosphorous is the second most frequently limiting macronutrient for plant growth [5]. Reproductive development is more sensitive than vegetative development to P deficiencies [6]; phosphate deficiency is detrimental to inflorescence formation, and Skinner et al [7] found that P fertilization promoted an improvement of berry-set, which resulted in heavier clusters and increased yield
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