II. Water management

a. Number of days after foundation pruning: 31

b. Expected Pan evaporation: 6.5 -8 mm

Amount of irrigation advised:

1.There is possibility of drizzling to light rains are there in many regions.In case the soil is under wapsa (field capacity) condition, donot irrigate the vineyard.

2. Practice mulching to keep the bunds moistened. This will reduce the salinity build up in the root zone due to evaporation of the moisture from the surface of the bund.

3.After foundation pruning, during shoot growth stage, apply 10,200 – 12,750 L/acre per day of irrigation water.If EC of the irrigation water is less than 1 dS/m, then apply 8,200 – 10,200 L/acre per day.

4.In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application to 5,000 – 6,400 L/ acre.Still if you are not able to control the vigour, stop irrigation till such time growth is controlled.

5. Cover the cordons of the pruned vines with shadenet, if available, for uniform sprouting as well as reducing the irrigation water needs by 20-25 %.Shadenet coverage will reduce the temperature impact on the cordons.However, remove shadenet after 3-5 leaf stage.If shadenet is not available, spray the cordons with water during the peak heat period i.e. 2-3 pm to reduce the heat effect on the buds.

6. In case there is probability of less irrigation water availability, then flood the bund (not whole vineyard) at pruning and mulch the bunds.Flooding the bund will reduce the accumulated salt load in the root zone and mulching will reduce the evaporation of water from soil surface.Thus, this will reduce the salt load in the soil and at the same time saturate the soil leading to proper sprouting.Further, in case less irrigation water is available still the newly emerging shoots will not be damaged due to salinity.

7.During fruit bud differentiation stage, shoot vigour to be controlled and hence, the irrigation water applied should be from 3500 to 5000 L/ acre/ day.

8.For fruit bud differentiation stage, stress needs to be given. In clayey soil as the water holding capacity is higher, please note that stress needs to be imposed early else fruitfulness will be affected.

9.Whenever the temperatures crosses 40-41°C during fruit bud differentiation stage, the irrigation water application should be near field capacity or wapsa condition. However, reduce/ stop water , if new growth is observed.

Soil and Nutrient management

Shoot growth stage:

1. Apply 50 kg urea/ acre in 5-6 splits after sprouting.In calcareous soils, donot apply urea, instead use Ammonium sulphate @ 85 kg/acre in atleast 7-8 splits from sprouting onwards.

2.  In case of vigorous growth of shoots, stop nitrogen application and wait for the growth to stabilize before resuming nitrogen application. If still the growth continues, then reduce irrigation.Then resume when growth is maintained at desired level.

3. Based upon soil test value, apply Zinc sulphate @10 kg/acre along with Ferrous sulphate @10kg/acre followed by Magnesium sulphate @15kg/acre in atleast 2 splits from 5-7 leaf stage onwards. Boron application should be strictly based upon soil and petiole test.

4. In calcareous soils, spray magnesium sulphate and potassium sulphate @2 gm each/ L during active growing stage.

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

Fruit bud differentiation stage

1. Based upon soil test values, apply 20 – 25 kg/ acre phosphoric acid or 150 kg/ acre SSP in case the soils are deficient in phosphorus.Phosphoric acid application is desirable in calcareous soils. Donot apply beyond this until and unless the soil and petiole tests show low phosphorus availability.

2. Donot apply any water soluble fertilizer having nitrogen.

3. At 45 DAP, perform petiole test to know the nutrient content of the vines.The petioles should be collected from 5th leaf from the base of the shoot even counting the leaves that have been removed.

4. Apply Magnesium sulphate @ 15kg/ acre in atleast 2 splits from 45 to 55 DAP.

5. In calcareous soils, spray magnesium sulphate and potassium sulphate @ 3 gm each/ L once only during 45 to 55 DAP.

6. Keep a close watch on the development of leaf blackening symptoms if irrigation water contains sodium more than 100ppm.

7. 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.

8. 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.

III. Canopy Management

Based on the weather data and growth stages, following suggestions are offered for vineyard management.

A) Old vineyard:

1) The recent rainfall in different grape growing regions has reduced the temperature and increased the relative humidity in the grape vineyard.

2) The increased humidity will be help for uniform and early bud sprout in late pruned vineyards.

3) Even in the late pruned vineyard, the use of hydrogen cyanamide is must. This will help to enhance the sprouting. The concentration can be 20-25 ml per litre water.

4) Use of sulphur in the root zone is necessary to control the problems of calcium carbonate in the vineyard.

5) In many of the grape vineyards, delayed or no bud sprouts is experienced. Application of urea @ 1.0 kg/acre for 3 to 4 times (alternate day) and spray @ 0.30 to 0.50 g/L water during evening time will help for bud sprouts. However, Excess dose for spray may cause scorching on emerging leaves.

6) In many of the grape vineyards, hailstorm and heavy rainfall caused the leaf damage as well as injury on the tender shoots. In case of light injury, only spray of copper-based fungicides can be taken.

7) In case of severe damage, the fresh re-cut of damaged shoots can be taken up. Immediately after the re-cut, copper fungicide sprays cane be taken. In addition, application of nitrogenous fertilizer (urea/ammonium sulphate) can be followed for early sprouts.

B) New vineyard:

1) While developing the trunk, stop and go method to be followed. The growing shoot to be pinched at 7-8 leaf stage when it is at 10-11 leaf.

2) The side shoots on the new growth are then pinched at 3-4 leaf and the upper shoot to be tied for next instalment of cordon.

3) While developing the cordons, the “stop n go” method to be followed. The growth turned on cordon wire for cordon development should be pinched at about 7-8 nodes. The side shoots can then be pinched at 3-4 nodes. This will help for extension of cordon in the same season to fulfil the requirement of canes per vine during the first year only.

4) Spray of 6 BA @ 10 ppm and Uracil @ 25 ppm is required for fruit bud differentiation.

5) The growing shoots damaged by hailstorm or heavy rains need to be protected. The spray of copper fungicides on the wound will protect the vines from fungal infection.

IV. Disease management

As the temperature is high and pruning is in progress in many areas, it is advised not to use any fungicide during this time as the probability of disease is almost nil. Spraying of water in the cordons is advisable.

In Sangli, a preventive spray of Kasugamycin 5% + Copper Oxychloride 45% WP @750g/ha, may be given in areas which was affected by bacterial spot and anthracnose in the fruiting season.

V.Insect and Mite management

1. Give preventive spray of imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.4 ml per litre water at the time of bud sprouting after April pruning to manage flea beetle and mealybug shoot malformation.

2. For flea beetle management during early shoot growth, spray imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.4 ml per litre or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.06 g per litre or lambda cyhalothrin 4.9 CS @ 0.5 ml per litre water during early morning hours or late evening. If that is not found sufficient to manage flea beetle, give soil drenching of imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 1.5 ml per vine also.

3. For thrips management in new vineyards or new shoot growth after April pruning, give regular applications of effective insecticides such as spinosad 45 SC @ 0.25 ml/l, spinetoram 11.7 SC @ 0.3 ml/l, cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml/l, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22g/l or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.0625 g/l water when thrips population is 5 per shoot or above.

4. In case of caterpillar infestation, the sprays of cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml/l, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22g/l or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.0625 g/l water given for thrips management will help in managing caterpillars too.