II. Water Management

a. Number of days after fruit pruning: 76

b. Pan evaporation: 2.5 to 4mm

Amount of irrigation advised:

1. Rains are forecasted. Irrigate the soil till wapsa condition so that roots are fully turgid and cannot absorb water during rains.

2. In case soil is under wapsa (field capacity) condition, donot irrigate the vineyard.

3. During shoot growth stage (Fruit pruning season),apply irrigation through drip @ 4250-6800 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions.In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application by half to 2100 - 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. 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.

5. From flowering to fruit setting, apply irrigation through drip upto 2000 L/ acre/ day.Vigour needs to be controlled.

6. During Berry development stage, apply irrigation through drip @ 4250-6800 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions.

Nutrient management

1. Inflorescence necrosis could be a issue in dense canopy. Remove side shoots and reduce canopy to allow penetration of the sunlight for proper aeration.Manage canopy for adequate sunlight and air movement within the canopy for avoiding/ minimizing problems of kooj (inflorescence necrosis).

2. Unnecessary sprays should be avaoided as the leaf health is bound to affect the photosynthate formation.This will impact bunch development.

3. Donot apply any nitrogen based fertilizer just before Flowering to Setting stage to avoid problems of kooj (inflorescence necrosis).

4. Minimum temperature predicted is low in some grape growing areas.The growth will be slow.If not sprayed go for foliar spray of Sulphate of potash @ 2-3g/L depending upon leaf age during prebloom stage and apply through drip 15-20 kg SOP/ acre.This helps in stress management.

Shoot Growth stage

1. 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.

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

3. Until and unless leaves are fully developed donot go for any foliar application of nutrients. It will be lead to wastage of spray.

4. The quantity of nutrients to be applied through foliar, depends upon canopy size.

5. If the crop is between 5 leaf to prebloom stage, apply Zinc sulphate and Ferrous sulphate @ 15 kg/ acre based upon soil test value.Boron application should be carried out only if soil test value indicates low levels and the irrigation water does not contain boron.If during foundation puning, the petiole test stated that boron was deficient then apply boron @ 1.5 kg to 5 kg depending upon the soil test value.Apply one kg boron at a time.

6. Apply 15 kg Magnesium sulphate per acre in two splits.

7. If soils are calcareous, spray Sulphate of potash and Magnesium sulphate @ 2-3g/L depending upon leaf age during prebloom stage.

Flowering to setting stage:

1. Donot apply any nitrogen based fertilizer just before Flowering to Setting stage to avoid problems of kooj (inflorescence necrosis).

2. Apply 3-4 kg Phosphoric acid in two to three splits this week.Remember that the pH of the irrigation water should be near 6.0. OR apply SSP @ 125kg/acre as basal application.SSP should be mixed with FYM/Compost before application to minimize phosphorus fixation.

3. If SOP not applied, then apply 15 kg SOP in case low temperature and cloudy conditions forecasted during flowering stage.

4. Petiole nutrient testing: At 70% capfall stage, petiole samples should be taken for nutrient analysis. The leaf opposite the bunch should be removed for sampling.

Berry Development stage:

1. After Berry setting, continue initially with Phosphoric acid application @ 2 kg followed by 5 kg 12-61-0/acre.

2. If the berry size is from 2-4mm, spray calcium @ 2g Calcium Chloride / Calcium Nitrate per litre.Target sprays immediately after GA application (preferably next day) for better absorption.

3. If the berry size is from 5-8mm, spray calcium @ 2g Calcium Chloride / Calcium Nitrate per litre.Target sprays immediately after GA application (preferably next day) for better absorption.

4. After 8-10 mm berry size, start application of nitrogen in the form of ammonium sulphate @ 25kg /acre in 4 splits in calcareous soil and as urea @ 15 kg/acre in other soils in 3 splits.Follow this up with Sulphate of potash or 0-0-50 @ 25 kg/ acre in 3-4 splits for next two weeks.

III. Canopy Management

Under the present rainfall condition, following suggestions are submitted 

1. Immediate spray of copper based fungicide to avoid infection. 

2. Stop irrigation and nitrogen based fertilizer for few days.

3. Remove the cracked berries immediately to avoid further berry rot.

4. Spray biologicals 

5. Spray Chitosan @ 2.0 ml per litre water to control further berry cracking. 

6. Spray potassium based fertilizer to control the vigor.

7. After the rain stops, allow the shoot to grow as per the requirement.

8. In the vineyards where less rain was less, there may be a problem of flower drop. Under such conditions, shoot pinching may be done. 

9. Berry drop may also be serious problem after the rains. Hence, increase in cytokinin and potassium level will be important.

IV. Disease management

Due to some rains and hailstorms in Nashik region, there can be an attack of downy mildew in the region.For downy mildew control application of fungicides like Amisulbrom @ 0.375g/L+ mancozeb 75WP@2g/L(tank-mix) or Dimethomorph@1g/L+mancozeb 75WP@2g/L(tank- mix) or Iprovalicarb+propineb @ 2.25g/L or Mandipropamid@ 0.8g/L may be done. For grapes of export purpose, where the crop is in berry set stage, potassium salt of active phosphorus@4g/L+ metiram@2g/ L may be used.However, no application is to be done if the leaves are wet. Efforts should be made to dry the leaves first and then application of fungicides can be done.If there is water within the bunch, application of horticulture grade mineral oil @1.5-2ml/L may be used to drain off the water. If there is an occurrence of berry cracking, application of chitosan@2ml/L may be given. Cracked berries should be removed to prevent saprophytic growth which in turn might lead to bunch rot.In 35-40 days old crop one round of cyflufenamid @ 0.5 ml/L or hexaconazole or difenoconazole @ 1ml/L may be given to control powdery mildew. Application of sulfur @2-2.5g/ L may be given along with systemic fungicides for the control of powdery mildew. Application of Trichoderma@2-3ml/L and Ampelomyces quisqualis@ 5ml/L should be done at an interval of 7-10 days in all rain affected fields.

V. Insect and Mite management

Growth Stage: flowering, berry setting to berry development after fruit pruning

1. In case of caterpillar and thrips infestation, application of emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22 g per litre or cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml per litre water is effective.

2. For flea beetle management, Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.4 ml/L or spinosad 45 SC @ 0.25 ml per liter water at night is effective.

3. Vineyards may have moderate mealybug infestation as well. 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 + Metarhizium anisopliae 3 ml per litre of water for plant wash.

4. Aphid infestation has been noticed in Sangali area, regular insecticides used for other insects may also kill the aphids. Spraying of entomogenous fungus, Lecanicillium (=Verticillium) lecanii is also effective.

5. 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 anisopliae @ 3 ml/l.