Fertilizer Management for Grapevines
(book excerpts)Proper nutrition is a key requirement for the reliable production of grapevines. Like other plants, grapevines require nutrients for growth and fruit production. Fertilizers supply nutrients to soils and help to correct nutrient deficiencies. Fertilizer refers to any compound that contains one or more chemical elements, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic, that is placed on or incorporated into the soil or applied to directly onto the vines to achieve normal growth. There are various types of fertilizers available for use in vineyards, each of which are suited to different situations and serve different purposes. With the increased cost of fertilizers and concerns about the adverse environmental impacts, there is great interest in fine-tuning fertilizer management. The goal is to match application source, rate, timing and method to meet the grapevines needs and achieve optimum levels of fertilizer use efficiency.
Click on the following topics for more information on fertilizers used for grapevines.
Topics Within This Chapter:
- Inorganic Fertilizers
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Fertilizer Grade
- Other Nutrients
- Regulatory Standards
- Single- or Multiple-Nutrient Fertilizers
- Fertilizer Forms
- Solid Fertilizers
- Liquid Forms
- Fertilizer Acidity/Basicity
- Fertilizer Salt Index
- Types of Inorganic Fertilizers
- Nitrogen Fertilizers
- Phosphorous Fertilizers
- Potassium Fertilizers
- Sulfur, Calcium, and Magnesium Fertilizers
- Micronutrient Fertilizers
- Chelates
- Organic Fertilizers
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program Rule
- Fertilizers Labeled as “Organic”
- Manure and Compost Amendments
- Manure
- Compost
- Application of Manure and Compost
- Mineral-Based Fertilizers
- Nitrogen Sources
- Phosphate Sources
- Potassium Sources
- Calcium Sources
- Micronutrients
- Synthetic
- Basalt Dust
- Chelating Agents
- Methods of Fertilizer Application
- Broadcasting
- Ammonia Volatilization
- Banding
- Foliar Application
- Fertigation
- Selected References
