Terroir 2008 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Influence of soil type and changes in soil solution chemistry on vine growth parameters and grape and wine quality in a central coast California vineyard

Influence of soil type and changes in soil solution chemistry on vine growth parameters and grape and wine quality in a central coast California vineyard

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of four soils with contrasting chemical and physical properties on vine growth parameters and wine chemistry in a Paso Robles, California Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. The selected soils covered contiguous vineyard patches planted with the same cultivar, on its own roots. Furthermore, these vineyards contained vines of the same age that have received the same management practices. The soils belonged to the orders Alfisols, Mollisols and Vertisols. Soil heterogeneity in this vineyard was attributed to variability in soil parent material, originating from old Estrella River alluvial deposits, which ranged from cobbly and gravelly to fine-grained alluvium. Soil moisture was recorded throughout the growing season. Plant water potentials at pre-dawn and midday were monitored on vines growing at two sites per soil type. Vine growth parameters were recorded along with leaf and petiole sampling for tissue analysis. Nutrient balance in the soil solution was characterized at the onset, mid-point and harvest time during the growing season and analyzed in relation to growth parameters and fruit yield. Soil solution concentrations of macronutrients, such as K and NH4/NO3, were related to differences in soil pH, organic matter, and clay mineralogy. Petioles and blades were sampled at bloom, veraison and harvest to evaluate plant nutrient concentrations and the relationship to nutrient availability in the soil solution. Variability in soil physical and chemical properties determined cation exchange capacity and nutrient availability in the soil solution, and these properties were found to be related to vine vigor and differences in fruit yield and quality between soils.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

Jean-Jacques LAMBERT (1), Andrew McELRONE (1,2), Mark BATTANY (3), Randy DAHLGREN (4), and James A. WOLPERT (1,3)

(1) Department of Viticulture and Enology
(2) U.S. Department of Agriculture
(3) University of California Cooperative Extension
(4) Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

2-YEARS STUDY ON COMPARISON BETWEEN THE VOLATILE CHEMICAL PROFILE OF TWO DIFFERENT BLENDS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF “VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE”

Valpolicella is a famous wine producing region in the province of Verona owing its fame above all to the production of two Protected Designation of Origins (PDOs) withered wines: Amarone and Recioto. In recent years, however, the wineries have been interested in the enhancement and qualitative increase of another PDO, Valpolicella Superiore. All the Valpolicella PDOs wines are produced with a unique grape blend, mainly Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and a range of other minor varieties.From 2019 Valpolicella product regulation has changed the grape proportion of the blend allowing new composition parameters of wines. For this reason, studying the volatile chemical profiles to support wine makers in the effort to produce high quality wines represents a field of great interest.

EXPLORING THE METABOLIC AND PHENOTYPIC DIVERSITY OF INDIGENOUS YEASTS ISOLATED FROM GREEK WINE

Climate change leads to even more hostile and stressful for the wine microorganism conditions and consequently issues with fermentation rate progression and off-character formation are frequently observed. The objective of the current research was to classify a great collection of yeast isolates from Greek wines based on their technological properties with oenological interest. Towards this direction, fourteen spontaneously fermented wines from different regions of Greece were collected for further yeast typing. The yeast isolates were subjected in molecular analyses and identification at species level.

Characterization of vineyard sites for quality wine production. German experiences

The quality of grapevines measured by yield and must density in the northern part of Europe conditons can be characterized as a type of “cool climate” – vary strongly from year to year and from one production site to another. One hundred year observations in Johannisberg from 1890 to 1991 demonstrate for the yield formation a clear dependancy from the year combined with a steady increase in productivity; latter a proof of positive clonal selection efforts.

Effect of different foliar nitrogen applications on the must amino acids and glutathione composition in Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most important winegrape varieties in Chile. However, temperature raise and decreased rainfall due to climate change can lead to grape quality decrease in certain areas. Amino acids are essential as nitrogen source for yeast but also directly affect grape quality serving as precursors of certain volatile compounds that enhance the wine bouquet. Besides, glutathione is an important tripeptide acting as antioxidant, preventing the appearance of browning pigments in must and exerts a protective effect in volatile compounds.

Statewide relationships between water potentials, gas exchange and δ13c of grape musts in California. Implications for use in precision viticulture

The measurement of carbon isotopic discrimination of musts (δ13C) at harvest is an integrated assessment of water status during ripening of grapevine. It is an alternative to traditional measurements of water status in the field, which is crucial for understanding spatial variability of plant physiology at the vineyard scale, proven useful for delineation of management zones in precision viticulture. The aim of this work was to attune the method for the first time to California conditions across a range of areas and cultivars with different hydric behavior, and to evaluate its efficiency in delineating management zones for selective harvest in commercial vineyards.