Canopy Management Techniques Flashcards
The six main canopy management techniques are:
- Site assessment to determine the ideal grape variety, rootstock vigour, planting density and row orientation
- Vine training
- Winter pruning
- Vine trellising
- Overall plant vigour management (nitrogen fertilisation, irrigation, cover cropping etc.)
- Summer pruning
What vineyard operations are performed during Summer Pruning?
- shoot removal
- shoot positioning
- pinching
- shoot trimming
- leaf removal
- crop thinning/green harvesting
Why is canopy management important when establishing a vineyard?
- Choices regarding vine density will affect the vine training and trellising.
- Must be decided before planting anything.
What is vine density?
- The number of vines that are planted per hectare of vineyard.
- Range from as low as a few hundred vines per hectare to over 10,000 per hectare.
How is the optimum vine density determined?
- the vigour of the vine (which in turn is influenced by natural resources and planting materials)
- the type of trellising system used
- what access requirements between the vines
How would one plant vines that are low in vigour and VSP trained?
Can be planted very closely together within the row as the individual vines are relatively small.
How would one plant vines that are high in vigour?
- Will need greater within-row spacing to grow and be in balance
- Planting these vines too close together could lead to overlapping canopies and increased shading, reducing ripeness and quality.
How would one plant vines in dry regions without irrigation?
Low density so that the roots can spread out, without competition, in search for as much water as possible.
General rule of between-row spacing?
Vine rows should be planted far enough apart so that one row does not shade the next.
What also needs to be considered when planning between-row spacing?
The width of any machinery that might be used.
What orientation generally provides the most even sunlight exposure through the canopy?
North-south orientation
Conditions in the afternoon are usually warmer than those in the morning so what might a grape grower do with north-south orientation rows?
Grape bunches on the west side of the canopy (which are exposed to the afternoon sun) may require more shading from leaves to protect them from sunburn.
What effect does prevailing winds have on row orientation?
Grape growers may choose to orient the rows at a 90° angle to the direction of the wind to provide most protection from it.
From an efficiency point of view, what row orientation is often the optimal option?
Orienting rows parallel to the longest side of the vineyard.
What row orientation option is needed for vineyards on slopes at an angle of greater than 10%?
Need to be planted up and down the slope rather than across or machinery may slip.
What is vine training?
Typically refers to the shape of the permanent wood of the vine.
Two main categories of vine training?
- head training
- cordon training
Describe low-training of a vine.
- The vine trunk is short
- Benefit from heat retained by the soil
- Provide greater protection from wind
Low training has several benefits, including:
1 - Increased sunlight exposure: By training the shoots to grow horizontally, more of the fruit is exposed to sunlight, which can increase the quality and yield of the grapes.
2 - Improved air circulation: Horizontal training allows for better air circulation, which can reduce the risk of disease and pest infestations.
3 - Ease of maintenance: Low training makes it easier for vineyard workers to access the grapes for pruning and other maintenance tasks.
4 - Better water management: Low training can also help ensure that the vines receive the right amount of water, which is essential for healthy grape production.
Low training is a critical component of successful vineyard management, and the specific method used will depend on the type of grape being grown, the climate, and the desired outcome.
Describe high training of a vine.
- The vine trunk is long
- Better avoid frosts
- Make manual interventions (e.g. harvesting) easier
Describe Head Training.
- These vines have relatively little permanent wood.
- The permanent wood usually consists of the trunk and head of the trunk.
- They can either be spur-pruned or replacement cane-pruned.
Define winter pruning.
The removal of unwanted parts of the vine in winter to determine the number and location of buds that will form.
Two main types of winter pruning.
- Spur pruning
- Replacement cane pruning
Describe spur pruning.
- Spurs are short sections of one-year-old wood that have been cut back to only two or three buds.
- Spurs can either be distributed along a cordon (cordon training) or around the top of the trunk (head training).
