II. Water Management

a. Number of days after fruit pruning: 69

 b. Expected pan evaporation: 4-5 mm

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 @ 6800-8500 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions. In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application by half to 3500 - 4200 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 3000 L/ acre/ day. Vigour needs to be controlled.

6. During Berry development stage, apply irrigation through drip @ 6800-8500 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. If SOP not applied, then apply 15 kg SOP and follow it up with SOP spray for building up the potassium levels in the vines. This will be especially beneficial during low temperature and rainy conditions.

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

1) Vineyard in pre- bloom stage:

With the prediction of rainfall in these vineyards, the problem of bunch rot and downy mildew infection may become serious. Hence, removal of non-bearing excess shoot immediately will help to reduce relative humidity in the canopy. Movement of tractor with blower in the canopy will help to reduce the humidity in the canopy. Immediately after the shoot removal, copper-based fungicide may be sprayed to avoid further infection. Spraying of zinc, boron and potassium will make the vine stronger. 

2) The vineyard from pre- bloom stage to flowering stage: 

The second application of GA3 can be given only during clear weather. Removal of 2 to 3 basal leaf will help for good aeration and coverage of fungicide. Immediately after the rains, the vineyard may experience powdery mildew infection. Hence, application of Trichoderma through foliar spray and drenching through drip may help to reduce the disease inoculation. 

3) Berry setting to 8 mm berry size:

The vineyard where berry setting is completed, bunch thinning and berry thinning need to be considered important. The bunches should be retained based on objectives (raisin, local market and export). The retention of berries per bunch should be based on the bunch type, variety, etc. In Red Globe and Nanasaheb Purple seedless, number of berries per bunch should be 65-70. In case of Thompson Seedless, the berries should be 110-120.

4) Leaf requirement for bunch development: The leaf requirement for bunch development should be given priority. For development of 500 g bunch (100-120 berries), one shoot should have at least total 12 leaf with leaf area of about 160-170 sq cm. Approximately 6-8 berries are developed with the support of one leaf. The leaf requirement can be fulfilled upto berry setting. Hence, during the pre-bloom stage to complete the leaf requirement application of nitrogenous fertilizer should be applied. Depending upon the curve of shoot tip, the fertilizer requirement can be decided.

IV. Disease management

 Due to some sporadic rains in the grape growing regions there can be an attack of downy mildew. For downy mildew control application of systemic 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. 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. In some areas of Nashik where dew is observed in the morning hours, a dusting of mancozeb@3-5 kg/acre may be done. In 35-40 days old crop one round of hexaconazole or difenoconazole @ 1ml/L may be given. In areas where there is a sudden drop in temperature powdery mildew may be visible and application of sulphur @2-2.5g/ L may be given. One round of powdery mildew specific fungicides like Metrafenone or fluopyram +tebuconazole or cyflufenamid or polyoxin D zinc salt at their respective doses may be given. Immediately after rains application of Ampelomyces quisqualis or Bacillus subtilis may be done

V. Insect and Mite management

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

·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.

·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.

·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.

·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.

·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.