Plant nutrition is a major factor influencing growth, physiological function, crop production, and quality. Ignoring grapevine nutrition can lead to reduced grape yield and quality over time. However, because grapevines are perennial plants that live (hopefully) for many decades, the nutrient requirements are not always straightforward. Therefore, monitoring vine nutrient status is crucial to maintain optimal grapevine health and fruit quality for both bunch and muscadine grapes.
Soil testing alone is not a precise indicator of vine nutrient status because soil tests will tell you what nutrients might be available to the plants at the time of sampling, but not what the plant is actually using. Plant tissue analysis is generally more reliable for predicting a vine’s current nutrient status.
Tissue analysis serves three purposes: determining the vine’s current nutrient status, identifying potential deficient or excessive nutrients that may signal approaching problems, and monitoring plant responses to fertilizer applications. The results of tissue tests can help growers better plan future fertilizer programs in vineyards. By collecting and analyzing tissue samples systematically, growers can use tissue test results as a valuable tool to manage vine nutrition and prevent potential future nutrition-related problems.
University of Georgia Extension has released its newest publication C1164 – Vineyard Nutrition: Tissue Sampling for Nutrient Analysis. Enjoy this new guide for growers and crop consultants HERE.