Vineyards fertilization

There are many details of good vineyard management as there are for any crop, but grapes are relatively tolerant, being perennials with deep roots and not high in water or fertility requirements. A few pests are special, notably grape phylloxera, a root louse native to America, but spread nearly... 

Ext. used land covered with vegetation, which is not or only scarcely used and not fertilized Int. used agricultural land that is fertilized strongly, e.g. arable land, pastures, and vineyards Settl. human settlements, e.g. villages, roads, and industrial areas... 

Fertilization generally is used very sparingly in coastal vineyards. No real correlation between fertilization and crop response has been determined. Cook (2) indicated that vine requirements were determined best by leaf petiole analyses. Excessive fertilization resulting in vigorous vine growth must be avoided, however, as this may affect berry set and thus reduce crop. Mountain vineyards often are fertilized to assure a good covercrop for erosion control. 

All of the inorganic cations are naturally present in must and wine at non-toxic concentrations. However, certain metals, such as lead, zinc, tin and mercury, may occur in higher concentrations as a result of the social and economic environment and/or vineyard cultivation methods. Fertilizers... 

A great deal of research examining the origins of ethyl carbamate in wine and brandies is described in the literature. Bertrand et al. (1991) concluded that ethyl carbamate concentrations in wine are linked to grape variety, as well as to excessive nitrogen fertilization in the vineyards, but these factors are not highly significant. 

The total nitrogen content of musts and their wines was not influenced by fertilizing the vineyards, according to Niehaus (1938). Loss of nitrogen occurred between 12 and 48 hours after fermentation started 50.7% to 58.5% of the total nitrogen was removed by fermentation. Yeast strains had little influence on the amount lost, but aeration increased yeast... 

OuGH, C.S., D. Stevens, and J. Almy. 1989b. Preliminary comments on effects of grape vineyard nitrogen fertilization on the subsequent ethyl carbamate formation in wines. Am.J. Enol. Vitic. 40 219-220. 

Spayd, S.E., C.W. Nagel, and C.G. Edwards. 1995. Yeast growth in Riesling juice as affected by vineyard nitrogen fertilization. Am.J Enol. Vitic. 46 49-55. 

Webster, D.R., C.G. Edwards, S.E. Spayd, J.C. Peterson, and B.J. Seymour. 1993. Influence of vineyard nitrogen fertilization on the concentrations of monoterpenes, higher alcohols, and esters in aged Riesling wines. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 44 275-284. 

This water from the soil transports the minerals that are necessary for growth in the plant. The ionic concentration of this solution is related to the nature of the soil and the fertilizers added, but a large amount of the available minerals is the result of biological activity in the soil. A potential disequilibrium can seriously affect vine growth. The best-known example is the increase in the exchangeable phytotoxic copper concentration in old, traditional vineyards that have received many sulfur and copper-based treatments to ensure the sanitary protection of the vine. Under the influence of bacteria in the soil, the sulfur is oxidized into sulfates which accumulate in the soil. The resulting soil acidification causes copper solubilization (Doneche, 1976). 

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