What are the key technical points of grapevine fertilization management?

Summary: Key technical points of grapevine fertilization

A grapevine needs fertilizers with different ratios applied at different stages of its life. After the weather warms up in spring, the first fertilizer applied is called the sprouting fertilizer, also known as the grape's first bite. The fertilizer at this stage is mainly nitrogen, and a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 25:5:10 is best. Once the grape has had a good first bite of fertilizer, it will grow quickly.

Spring fertilization can also use the root-cutting fertilization method, because after the roots are cut, the main root will thicken, and many secondary roots will also grow from the main root. During the year, grape roots have two growth peaks. One is between spring and summer, and one is in autumn. The grape root system has a very strong regenerative capacity; after root cutting, the grape root system will produce many fibrous roots. This promotes root vitality and lays a good foundation for the robust growth of the grape.

The second fertilization is the fruit enlargement fertilizer. At this stage, ordinary farmers mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer in pursuit of more grape clusters, but the scientific and reasonable fertilization method is to apply 40-50 kg per mu, and the best formula is a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 16:12:18.

The third is the coloring fertilizer. For the coloring fertilizer, supplement a high-phosphorus, high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer through the leaves, or, where conditions permit, use drip irrigation to supplement a high-phosphorus, high-potassium macro-element water-soluble fertilizer. This greatly helps the grape's coloring, taste and yield.

After the grapes are harvested, a base fertilizer must be applied in autumn, commonly known as the confinement fertilizer. This confinement fertilizer is just like a postpartum woman in confinement. It is actually replenishing nutrients for the grapevine. Although fertilizers with different ratios are applied at different growth stages of the grape to continuously replenish its nutrients, a vine that has just had its grapes picked is like a woman who has just given birth. No matter how many nutrients were supplied before, the grape itself has already consumed a great deal, and at this time it must be given nutrients. This is used to complete the energy supply for the grape throughout the long winter.

This overwintering period is also called the stored-nutrition period, and it provides the nutrient foundation for the flower bud differentiation of the following year. Many growers do not apply this confinement fertilizer. They feel that fertilizers have already been applied in the various earlier stages of the grape, so there is no need to waste more at this time, since fertilizer will be applied again in early spring anyway. Most of them, after harvest, are busy pruning branches and shoots and do not apply this autumn base fertilizer.

It is wrong to postpone the confinement fertilizer to the following spring, because only by storing enough nutrients in winter can a sufficient nutrient supply be guaranteed the next year. If this portion of nutrients cannot be supplied, it will affect fruit set, so in order to ensure flower bud differentiation and for the grape to bear more fruit, the confinement fertilizer must be applied.

Not applying the confinement fertilizer is wrong, but if you cannot grasp the timing of applying the confinement fertilizer, that is also no good. When is the most suitable time to apply the confinement fertilizer? Which formula is best for applying the confinement fertilizer?

Look at the grape leaves. If the grape leaves are still green, then at this time it can still absorb nutrients. The leaves are the main site of photosynthesis, and the corresponding root vitality is also relatively vigorous, which can promote the roots' absorption of nutrients, so the confinement fertilizer must be applied while the grape leaves are still green. It should be mentioned here that many growers, when applying the autumn base fertilizer, casually cut off the green leaves as well. This practice is wrong.

When applying the autumn base fertilizer, the roots must be damaged as little as possible, at a distance of about 40 cm from the roots. It is best to use a high-phosphorus formula together with biological bacterial fertilizer or organic fertilizer, which can both condition the soil and provide enough nutrients for cell division in the roots and branches. The application depth is preferably below 25 cm. Where conditions permit, when applying the base fertilizer in holes, mix the removed upper topsoil with the fertilizer and bury it below, and put the lower-layer soil on top. The above is the summary of the key technical points of grapevine fertilization management. I hope it is helpful to you.

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