What Are the Benefits of Root-Restricted Grape Cultivation? With Detailed Technical Explanation

What is root-restricted cultivation? It refers to controlling root growth within a fixed space to regulate the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of the above-ground part, ensuring that more nutrients are transported to the berries and reducing late-stage fruit cracking in grapes. What are the benefits of root-restricted grape cultivation? What does the specific cultivation technique involve?

I. Why do grapes need root-restricted cultivation?

Root-restricted grape cultivation technology refers to controlling root growth within a fixed space to regulate the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of the above-ground part, ensuring that more nutrients are transported to the berries and reducing late-stage fruit cracking in grapes. The benefit of this approach is that the entire system can control moisture, fertilizer, pests, yield and quality. With this root-restricted grape cultivation technique, the number of grapevines planted per unit is smaller, yet the yield per mu is increased by more than 10% compared with conventional planting, the quality sugar content is increased by 2 degrees, and the cost per mu can also be reduced by 800 yuan.

1. Root-restricted cultivation means growing grapes in soil with ultra-high organic matter to ensure root growth quality and respiration quality;

2. Water and fertilizer management in root-restricted cultivation is completely different from conventional cultivation. In conventional cultivation, fertilizer is released in the soil and buffered by the soil, whereas in root-restricted cultivation, fertilizer comes into direct contact with the roots;

3. Under root-restricted cultivation conditions, fertilizer must be supplied through integrated water and fertilizer application, and the concentration of the fertilizer solution must be limited, as must the content of harmful substances such as heavy metals in the fertilizer solution;

4. In the early stage of root-restricted cultivation, farmyard manure is basically not needed. After three to four years, appropriately expand the container and strengthen the supply of water-soluble organic fertilizer;

5. Root-restricted cultivation confines the root system to a certain area, promotes the development of a large number of absorbing roots, and improves fertilizer absorption and utilization efficiency.

II. Root-restricted grape cultivation techniques

For fruit trees, root-restricted cultivation mainly includes three types: ridge type, box-basket type and pit type. Below, taking grapes, which are used more often, as an example, a brief introduction is given.

1. Ridge-type cultivation

This refers to laying microporous non-woven fabric or slightly raised (to prevent water accumulation) plastic film on the ground, then piling nutrient soil rich in organic matter on top into a soil ridge or mound shape, and planting crops on the ridge. Because the surrounding surface of the soil ridge is exposed to the air and the bottom is separated by film, the root system can only grow within the ridge.

This method is easy to operate and is suitable for warm regions where the soil does not freeze in winter, but the soil moisture and temperature stability of the root zone in summer is relatively poor.

2. Box-basket type cultivation

Box frames or brick and stone structures are used to set up root-restriction cultivation containers, filled with mixed soil for growing grapes. The gaps along the lower edge of the box frame where it contacts the soil can allow excess water to drain away to avoid water accumulation.

It is suitable for application under protected cultivation conditions. The disadvantage is that the moisture and temperature of the root zone are unstable, and the ability to withstand low temperatures is relatively poor.

3. Pit-type cultivation

A pit of a certain volume is dug below ground level, and the four walls and bottom of the pit are lined with membrane materials such as microporous non-woven fabric that allow water to pass through but cannot be penetrated by roots. After filling with nutrient soil, the tree is planted inside.

The moisture and temperature fluctuations in the pit-type root zone are small, which can save irrigation water, and it can also be applied in cold northern regions in winter.