WEATHER DATA FOR THE PREVAILING WEEK

Date of Fruit Pruning: 15/09/2022

 Thursday (19/10/2023) – Wednesday (25/10/2023)

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: 34

b. Pan evaporation:4.5 to 6.5 mm

Water management

Expected pan evaporation:4-6 mm

Amount of irrigation advised:

1. During shoot growth stage (Fruit pruning season),apply irrigation through drip @ 7650-11050 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions.In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application by half to 3800 - 5500 L/ acre and still if growth is more, stop the irrigation till such time the growth is brought under control and then start irrigation.

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. From flowering to fruit setting, apply irrigation through drip upto 2500-3640 L/ acre/ day.Vigour needs to be controlled.

Nutrient management

Pre-pruning operations – Fruit pruning season

1. Test the soil and irrigation water, to plan for nutrient and water management during fruit pruning season.

2. The vineyards where sodicity problems are there, apply gypsum to the soil for removal of sodium from the soil exchange complex.In case of calcareous soils, use sulphur for similar purpose.The application should be alongwith 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.

4. 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.

5. If soils are calcareous in nature, then apply 50 kg sulphur between the vines in the soil atleast 15-20 days before pruning. The sulphur should be properly mixed in the soil for improving its efficacy in taking care of calcium carbonates.The efficacy of sulphur is improved if FYM/ Compost are applied along with sulphur and mixed in the soil. If SSP is applied as basal dose, mix with FYM/compost etc. to avoid phosphorus fixation.

REMEMBER: Sulphur should not be left on the surface of the bund.This will not help in removing calcium carbonate from the soil.

Shoot Growth stage

1. 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.

2. 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.

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

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

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

6. 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.

7. Apply 10 kg Magnesium sulphate per acreif the crop is between 5 leaf to prebloom stage.

8. 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. 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.

III. Canopy Management

The practices followed during this week are as below.

1. The temperature during day time is increasing. However, the relative humidity is not increasing as it is expected. This condition is creating the situation of October heat.

2. The present condition is becoming favourable for growth and development of grape bunch in early pruned vineyard.

3. The fog/dews in early morning are creating the problems of infestation of downy mildew. To control the disease, instead of spray, dusting of fungicides can be preferred.

4. In newly grafted vineyard, grafting was done on two to three shoots for success of grafting. On the two buds available on scion stick, there will be four to six shoots. All the three shoots are tied on bamboo with the help of sutali. With the increase in relative humidity near the graft joint, chances of downy mildew infestation will be more. Hence, only straight growing, and healthy shoots to be retained and tied to bamboo. The remaining shoots are to be pinched at 4-5 leaf and separated from bamboo. This will avoid crowding and increased relative humidity.

5. The grafted plants should be maintained weed-free. This will reduce the relative humidity.

6. In old vineyard under this weather, the bunch emergence will not be a problem. However, the irrigation management to be proper so that the soil will be in field capacity.

7. The bunches at pre-bloom stage should be sprayed with GA₃ @ 10 ppm. To improve the efficiency of GA3, water being used should not contain sodium salt, carbonates, etc. The pH of the spray solution should be 5.5 to 6.0.

8. The vineyard where forward pruning is not yet done are facing the problem of leaf fall. For effective results, the vine should be under water stress before the spraying. Ethephon @ 2.5 to 3.0 ml/L water and 0.52.34 @ 5.0 g/L water will be sufficient to achieve leaf fall. Under this condition, the leaf fall will be at slower rate. From the data of spraying, complete leaf fall can be achieved in 10 to 11 days.

9. In the vineyard under pre-bloom stage, removal of excess shoots should be given priority.

IV. Disease management

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 sulfur 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+ 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 control of downy mildew. In some areas of Nashik where dew is observed in the morning hours, a dusting of mancozeb@3-5 kg/acre may be done. Excessive sprays may be avoided and foliar spray of Trichoderma may be taken once in 20 days@2-3ml/L.

 V. Insect and Mite management

Fruit pruning growth stage: Dormant bud to sprouting

1. Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) infestation may increase in some of the grape areas where humidity is high. Caterpillars may chew on buds and new sprouts. For the management of caterpillars, walk inside vineyards after 9 pm and manually collect the larvae feeding on sprouting buds as most of the insecticides will not be much effective when canopy is not present.

2. Remove loose bark and give preventive plant wash with buprofezin 25 SC @ 1.25 ml/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 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. 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.