What Fertilizer to Use for Grapevines? 6 Fertilization Methods and Precautions

AbstractGrapevines are mainly fertilized with nitrogen in the early stage, and after entering the fruiting stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers increase accordingly. In addition to organic fertilizer, each crop requires about 80-150kg per hectare of the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. According to the different varieties, yields, tree vigor, and soil fertility of grapevines, appropriate adjustments should be made. Base fertilizer is applied after the onset of winter, and topdressing is applied before bud break, before flowering, and during the fruit expansion stage respectively.

Actually, we all know that no matter what we plant, fertilizer is essential if we want high yields, but fertilization is also very particular. Each plant needs different fertilizers. If fertilization is improper, it will not only fail to increase yields but may even cause the plant to die!

What Fertilizer to Use for Planting Grapes

To achieve high yields, grapes need large amounts of nutrients. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used, and after entering the fruiting stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers increase accordingly. In addition to organic fertilizer, each crop (harvest) requires about 80-150kg per hectare of the three elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Then, according to the different varieties, yields, tree vigor, and soil fertility of grapes, adjustments should be made according to actual conditions. Base fertilizer is mainly applied after the onset of winter, with 30,000 kg of chicken and duck manure, 3,750 kg of cake fertilizer, and 3,750 kg of superphosphate per hectare. Topdressing is applied before bud break, before flowering, and during the fruit expansion stage respectively, and fruit-strengthening agent is sprayed at the appropriate time. In the early stage, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used to promote vine growth and flower cluster development. During the fruit expansion stage, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are added to improve quality.

Foliar topdressing with 0.3% urea and 0.2% monopotassium phosphate can promote fruit expansion and ripening. To produce high-quality grapes, the orchard needs irrigation facilities to prevent dramatic changes in soil moisture. Generally, more water is needed during the bud break stage and young fruit growth stage, and timely irrigation is needed during drought.

The fertilization method is mainly based on solid inorganic fertilizers. According to the growth and development needs of grapes, in the first year after planting, urea is topdressed 3 times (2 times fewer than soil cultivation), 50 grams per plant each time, and ternary compound fertilizer is topdressed 2 times, 100 grams per plant each time. The annual application per mu is about 9 kg of urea and 12 kg of ternary compound fertilizer, which are 1/5 and 1/4 of the topdressing amount per mu for soil cultivation respectively. Trace elements are supplemented by foliar spraying, combined with pesticide spraying 2-3 times throughout the year.

Because substrate-cultivated grapes grow vigorously with a massive root system, their resistance to pests and diseases is greatly improved. In the first year after planting, pesticides are used about 3-4 times, and in the fruiting year, pesticides are used 5 times less throughout the entire growing season. In soilless cultivation of grapes, the trellis system used is better with a pergola than a hedge trellis, because the hedge trellis surface is short and the grape growth vigor is strong, and fruit setting is not as good as with a pergola. From the test results, using a flat pergola with small X training is both easy for early high yield and easy to improve quality.

How to Fertilize When Planting Grapes  

1. Apply base fertilizer: Mainly organic fertilizer, generally accounting for about 60%-70% of the total annual fertilization amount. Apply 3000-5000 kg of barnyard manure or compost per mu. If using dried chicken manure sold on the market, the amount is 700-1000 kg. It can also be accompanied by 30 kg of compound fertilizer. It should be noted that the organic fertilizer must be fully decomposed when applying.  

2. Topdressing: Mainly carried out during the growing season to promote plant growth and fruit development.  

3. Bud-promoting fertilizer: Applied before buds begin to sprout in early spring, mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. After topdressing is completed, irrigate immediately to promote uniform bud break. Urea or decomposed human manure and urine can be applied. Urea is applied at 0.1-0.4 kg per plant, and human manure and urine liquid fertilizer is applied at 8-10 kg per plant.  

4. Pre-flowering fertilizer: Applied 7-10 days before flowering. NPK compound fertilizer is preferred, 0.1-0.15 kg per plant. 

5. Fruit-swelling fertilizer: At this stage, fertilization should combine quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and compound fertilizer. Urea 0.1-0.5 kg per plant, NPK compound fertilizer 0.1-0.5 kg per plant.  

6. Color-enhancing and sugar-enhancing fertilizer: Refers to fertilizer applied before or at the early stage of fruit color change, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Potassium sulfate 0.2-0.4 kg per plant can be selected.   

Precautions for Autumn Fertilization of Grapes  

1. Base fertilizer must be fully decomposed before application, otherwise it may cause root burn, especially chicken manure and sheep manure.  

2. Avoid damaging thick roots when digging trenches.  

3. According to the soil conditions in the orchard, appropriately add deficient elements, especially some trace elements.  

4. After fertilization, water thoroughly once.  

5. Determine the fertilization amount as appropriate. Generally, orchards with high yields for more than three years can apply about 4000 kg of base fertilizer, and if conditions permit, up to 5000 kg.  

6. Also note that fertilization should not be applied in the same place every year, as this can easily cause root growth obstruction, rot, and death.

Basic Principles of Autumn Fertilization for Grapes  

1. Need to use thoroughly decomposed organic fertilizer, biological bacterial organic fertilizer, or biological bacterial agent;  

2. Do not use water-flush fertilizer containing trace elements;  

3. According to soil characteristics, choose to use acidic or alkaline fertilizers;  

4. Organic calcium fertilizer that regulates soil acidity and alkalinity can be used;  

5. Seaweed fertilizer, chitin fertilizer, amino acid fertilizer, and humic acid fertilizer with soil repair functions can be used.  

6. Integrated fertilizer and pesticide, while fertilizing, kill harmful bacteria and underground pests in the soil, reducing the base of pest and disease occurrence for the next year.

Although fertilization sounds like a relatively simple task, it still takes a lot of effort to do it well. First, we need to identify the fertilizer suitable for grapes. Second, we need to identify the right timing for fertilization. Third, we need to identify the right location for fertilization. Only when all are appropriate can the expected results be achieved. Otherwise, it will go in the opposite direction!