WEATHER DATA FOR THE PREVAILING WEEK

Date of Fruit Pruning: 15/09/2022

 Thursday (5/10/2023) – Wednesday (11/10/2023)

Note: Above weather information is summary of weather forecasting given in following websites

https://www.wunderground.com/?cm_ven=cgi

https://imdagrimet.gov.in/weatherdata/BlockWindow.php

https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/india

ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes does not claim accuracy of it.

II. Water Management

a. Number of days after fruit pruning: 20

b. Pan evaporation:2.5 to 4 mm

Amount of irrigation advised:

1. Grape growing regions are forecasted to receive drizzling to light rains.The irrigation water application should be based upon the growth of the vines.Objective is to concentrate on cane maturity, hence, vigour should be controlled.

2. If the soils especially medium and heavy, are saturated with water, then, do not irrigate for atleast 5-7 days till the soil comes to wapsa condition.The top soil is likely to show dryness but, at lower depth water will be available for the vines. Allow the new growth to stop first before starting irrigation.

3. During shoot growth stage (Fruit pruning season),apply irrigation through drip @ 3400-6800 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions.In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application by half to 1700 - 3400 L/ acre and still if growth is more, stop the irrigation till such time the growth is brought under control and then start irrigation.

4. In rainy conditions, remove mulch cover on the bund and allow the rain water to seep into the soil. This will leach the accumulated salts in the rootzone.The mulch so removed can be mixed with the soil to improve the soil porosity.

Nutrient management

1. After current rains, give foliar spray of SOP @ 2-5 g/L depending upon canopy.

2. In case of calcareous soils where acute iron deficiency is observed, repeatedly spray 2-3g/L Ferrous sulphate two to three times at 3 days interval followed by 15-20 kg/ acre Ferrous sulphate application through drip.The fertigation dose should be split into atleast 3 doses of 5kg each.Apply 5kg/ acre soluble sulphur through drip every week.Also spray magnesium sulphate and potassium sulphate @ 3 gm each/ L once only. Keep a close watch on the development of leaf blackening symptoms if irrigation water contains sodium more than 100ppm.

3. The light intensity is reduced due to cloudy conditions, management of canopy to improve light penetration is important for cane maturity.

4. Possibility of leaf curling, check the leaf margins, if slight to more yellow, possibility of potassium deficiency.Foliar spray of SOP @ 3-4g/L followed by fertigation of 20-25 kg SOP/acre in 2 to 3 splits.

5. In coloured varieties like Jumbo, Nanasaheb Purple etc., leaf curling along with reddening/ bronzing of the leaf margin can be observed if potassium deficiency is there.Foliar spray of SOP @ 3g/L followed by fertigation of 20-25 kg SOP/acre in 2 to 3 splits.

6. Apply magnesium sulphate @ 15 kg/acre in two splits.The application should be done during 90-110 days after pruning.

7. Two –three sprays of SOP@ 4-5g/L and Magnesium sulphate is required for improving cane maturity in the vineyards.

Pre-pruning operations – Fruit pruning season

1. In case pruning is planned during October/ November, raise Sunnhemp or Dhaincha for green manuring purpose and plough it back into soil before flowering.

2. In casepruning is planned during Sept.-Oct., then following operations should be performed before pruning:

a) The soil and irrigation water should be tested and nutrient application planned based upon the test results.

b) In areas where rains have not been received and the irrigation water availability is less, it is suggested to flood the rootzone(only) with water to leach out the salts and wet the entire soil depth before pruning and then cover with mulch.Thereafter irrigate as per availability of water.

c) 15-20 days before pruning, depending upon the extent of calcium carbonate or sodium in the soil, Sulphur/ gypsum should be applied as soil amendment along with FYM/compost etc. They should be mixed in the soil and not left on the top.

3. In case of calcareous soils, if SSP is applied as basal dose, mix with FYM/compost etc. to avoid phosphorus fixation and then apply in the soil.

Shoot Growth stage

1. After current rains, give foliar spray of SOP @ 2 g/L depending upon canopy.

2. In case organic fertilizers are applied, check the C:N ratio. Lower the ratio more the nitrogen release, hence possibility of enhanced growth. Control nitrogen application based upon growth of vine.

3. Based upon the soil test value, during shoot growth stage apply urea @ 15kg / acre this week in two splits.If the soil is calcareous, instead of urea apply ammonium sulphate @ 25 kg/ acre in three splits this week.Depending upon the crop vigour, regulate nitrogen application.

4. If sodicity problem is there, apply 10 kg Sulphate of potash per acre in 2 splits this week.

5. Until and unless leaves are fully developed donot go for any foliar application of nutrients. It will be lead to wastage of spray.The quantity of nutrients to be applied through foliar, depends upon canopy size.

III. Canopy Management

The practices followed during this week are as below.

1. With the change in weather condition, the relative humidity in the atmosphere is increased. This condition will result into the increase in shoot vigor. To control the shoot vigor, shoot pinching should be taken up on priority basis. 

2. The new shoot growth may get affected by downy mildew and anthracnose. Hence, removal of new growth, and training the shoot on wire should be done. This will help to reduce the relative humidity and maintain aeration in the canopy.

3. Application of potash either through drip or spray or both will help to advance the cane maturity.

4. This period is considered important for performing the wedge grafting in the field. Selection of scion variety will help to fulfil the purpose of grape cultivation.

5. The selection of scion should be from disease free, high yielding and healthy vine.

6. The scion selected for grafting should be from completely matured cane.

7. The scion selection should be preferably form below the sub-cane.

8. The selected scion should have complete maturity showing dark brown pith.

9. The rootstock selected for grafting should not be completely matured but soft wood to semi-hardwood.

10.The weather condition plays an important role in grafting success. Relative humidity more than 80% and temperature 30-35 ⁰C will help for successful grafts to be achieved. To make sure of these factors, irrigation in the plot 3-4 days before the grafting should be done.

11.Spraying of biologicals during humid conditions can help to control the disease incidence. 

12.Leaf fall for fruit pruning is important. Leaf removal either through manual or using ethephon spray is recommended.

13.The vine should be under stress at the time of ethephon spray.

14.Ethephon @ 2.5 to 3.0 ml + 0.52.34 @ 5 g/L water will help for leaf fall.

15.Before fruit pruning, the bud testing should be done. This will help to know the exact position of a fruitful bud on a cane.

IV. Disease management

Foliar application of Trichoderma should be given @2-3ml/L. Application of Kasugamycin+copper oxychloride @ 750g/Ha will control bacterial spot and anthracnose. Streptocycline should NOT be applied for any bacterial diseases. In areas where pruning is complete, cordon wash with Mancozeb and sulphur should be done. Trichoderma application through drip may be given prior to pruning or immediately after pruning. In early pruning areas, where the vines are between 5-7 leaf stage application of systemic fungicides like Amisulbrom @ 0.375g/L or Dimethomorph@1g/L+mancozeb 75WP@2g/L or Iprovalicarb+propineb @ 2.25g/L or Mandipropamid@ 0.8g/L may be done for control of downy mildew may be done. In some areas of Nashik where dew is observed in the morning hours, dusting of mancozeb@3-5 kg/acre may be done.

V. Insect and Mite management

Foundation pruning growth stage: Cane maturity and afterwards

1. Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) infestation may increase in most of the grape areas as humidity is high. For the management of caterpillars, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22 g/litre or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.06 g/litre or cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml per lire water may be given.Installation of light traps outside vineyards is the best strategy to manage caterpillar population.

2. Mealybug population and movement of ants may be noticed under the bark. Due to build-up of relative humidity and increase in temperature, plant wash with entomopathogenic fungi viz. Metarhizium, Beauveria and Lecanicillium may be useful for controlling mealybugs and ants.

3. Do not spray any broad-spectrum insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, methomyl, profenophos, etc. for mealybug control. Higher humidity will favour development of natural enemies which will slowly kill mealybugs. In case chemical spray is required, prefer buprofezin 25 SC @ 1.25 ml per litre of water for plant wash.

4. Incidences of new species of stem borer (red colour larva) may be noticed under bark in Sangali, Solapur, Nashik, Pune, Bijapur grape areas. Remove the loose bark and give good plant wash mainly targeting cordons and main trunk with Metarhizium @ 2.5 ml/l.

Fruit pruning growth stage: Dormant bud to sprouting

1. Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) infestation may increase in most of the grape areas as humidity is high. Caterpillars may chew on buds and new sprouts. Collection of caterpillars by hand at night after 9 pm is the best strategy to manage them during bud sprouting stage as most of the insecticides may not be effective during that period.

2. Remove loose bark and give preventive plant wash with buprofezin 25 SC @ 1.25 ml/litre + Metarhizium anisopliae @ 2-3 ml per litre water. At 15 days interval, plant wash with entomopathogenic fungi viz. Metarhizium, Beauveria and Lecanicillium may be useful for controlling mealybugs and ants.

3. Give soil drenching with Metarhizium just after fruit pruning to manage flea beetle grubs, thrips pupa and ants in soil.

4. For flea beetle management, remove weeds from inside and around the vineyards. Harrowing may be done in inter row space once the rainy spell is over. Foliar application of lambda cyhalothrin 4.9 CS @ 200 ml per acre or imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 160 ml per acre or fipronil 80 WG @ 25 g per acre or spinosad 45 SC @ 100 ml per acre may be given. The foliar spray may preferably to give at night after 7 pm.