Irrigation Scheduling for ‘Sovereign Coronation’ Table Grapes Based on Evapotranspiration Calculations and Crop Coefficients

Abstract

Several irrigation treatments were evaluated on ‘Sovereign Coronation’ (Vitis labruscana) table grapes at two vineyard sites in Ontario, Canada in 2003 to 2005 to assess the usefulness of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Penman-Monteith equation for predicting vine irrigation needs. Data (relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and temperature) for calculating reference evapotranspiration (ETo) were downloaded from the Ontario Weather Network. The five irrigation treatments were nonirrigated control plus four based on combinations of one of two ETo values [100% (ET100) or 150% (ET150)] and two crop coefficients [Kc (fixed at 0.75 or 0.5–0.8 based upon increasing canopy volume)] used to calculate the required irrigation water volume. Transpiration (Ts), leaf water potential (ψ), and soil moisture data were collected in all three seasons. Yield components data were collected and berries were analyzed for soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity (TA), anthocyanins, methyl anthranilate (MA), and total volatile esters (TVE). Irrigation typically increased Ts rate and soil moisture; the nonirrigated treatment showed consistently lower Ts and soil moisture over the three seasons. Irrigation also increased leaf ψ, which was lower throughout the three seasons for nonirrigated vines. Irrigation additionally increased yield and its various components (clusters per vine, cluster weight, and berries per cluster) in 2005. Berry weights were higher for irrigated treatments at both sites, and were consistently the main variable leading to yield increases. Soluble solids was highest for the Kc = 0.75 treatments. pH, TA, anthocyanins, and phenols were highest in nonirrigated treatments in 2003 and 2004, but were highest in irrigated treatments in 2005. MA and TVE were highest in the ET150 treatments. The use of irrigation was effective in reducing water stress and for improving yield and fruit composition of ‘Sovereign Coronation’ table grapes in the Niagara region of Ontario. The ET150 treatments were particularly beneficial. Soil and vine water status measurements indicated that irrigation was required for Summer 2003 and 2005 due to dry conditions.