WEATHER DATA FOR THE PREVAILING WEEK

Date of Fruit Pruning: 15/09/2022

 Thursday (21/09/2023) – Wednesday (27/09/2023)

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 foundation pruning: 159

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. 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.

4. During shoot growth stage (Fruit pruning season),apply irrigation through drip @ 4200-6800 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 stop nitrogen application. Still if growth is more, stop the irrigation till such time the growth is brought under control and then start irrigation.

Nutrient management

1. 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/ acreFerrous 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

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

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

Pre-pruning operations – Fruit pruning season

1. In case pruning is planned during October, 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. 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 willlead to wastage of spray.

5. 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

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.

V. Insect and Mite management

Growth Stage: Cane maturity and afterwards stage after foundation pruning

1. High flea beetle incidence may be noticed in the vineyards now. If not controlled it will cause serious damage after fruit pruning. Remove weeds from inside and around the vineyards. Harrowing may be done in inter row space. Give soil drenching with entomogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae @ 3 litres per acre in the root zone to kill flea beetle grubs in the soil. Thereafter, foliar application of lambda cyhalothrin 4.9 CS @ 200 ml per acre or imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 160 ml per acre at night after 7 pm may be given.

2. In case of caterpillar infestation, application of fipronil 80 WG @ 0.0625 g per litre or emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22 g per litre or cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml per litre water is effective. Installation of light traps outside vineyards is the best strategy to manage caterpillar population.

3. Use of broad-spectrum insecticides should be avoided for mealybug control. Buprofezin 25 SC @ 1.25 ml per litre or spirotetramat 15.31 OD @ 0.7 ml per litre water may be given to manage mealybugs. Preventive plant wash, on stem and cordons, of biocontrol agents such as Verticillium, Metarhizium, Beauveria may be given.

4. In case of thrips infestation, remove excess shoot growth.

5. Red colour stem borer (Dervishiya cadambae) has started egg laying and infestation under bark in grape areas. Install light traps near the vineyards to manage moths of this stem borer. Remove loose bark from stem and cordons and give preventive wash on stem and cordons with biocontrol agent Metarhizium @ 3-5 ml per litre water minimum once in the month during July to September months. If infestation is observed, remove the loose bark and give stem and cordon wash with Metarhizium @ 3-5 ml per litre water and 1.5-2 litres water per plant.

6. In new vineyards after grafting, flea beetle infestation may be observed. In case of heavy infestation, give soil drenching with imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 1.5 ml per plant and foliar application with spinosad 45 SC @ 0.25 ml per litre or spinetoram 11.7 SC @ 0.3 ml per litre or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.0625 g per litre water.

7. Mite infestation may start appearing, therefore, monitor the vineyards carefully. If mite infestation is observed, sulphur 80 WDG @ 1.5-2.0 gram per litre or abamectin 1.9 EC @ 0.75 ml/l water is effective.