WEATHER BASED GRAPE ADVISORY

WEATHER DATA FOR THE PREVAILING WEEK

Date of Fruit Pruning: 15/09/2022

Thursday (20/10//22)–Wednesday (26/10/2022)

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 (Dr. A.K. Upadhyay & Yukti Verma)

A)    Days after fruit pruning : 35 days

B)    Pan evaporation: 2 to 4 mm

Amount of irrigation advised:

1.      Some grape growing areas are likely to receive rains from drizzling to light rains.  In case rain exceeds 5 mm on a given day soil is under wapsa (field capacity) condition, donot irrigate the vineyard.

2.      During shoot growth stage (Fruit pruning season),  apply irrigation through drip @ 3400-6800 L/ acre/ day for all grape growing regions.  In case vigour is more than desired, then reduce irrigation water application by half to 1700 - 3400 L/ acre and still if growth is more, stop the irrigation till such time the growth is brought under control and then start irrigation.

3.      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.

4.      From flowering to fruit setting, apply irrigation through drip upto 2000 L/ acre/ day.  Vigour needs to be controlled.

Nutrient management

Pre-pruning operations – Fruit pruning season

1.      In case the soils are saturated, due to prolonged saturation, the roots may start decaying.  Donot disturb the soil in the root zone even if pruning is being taken up. Wait for the soil to come to the wapsa condition before any soil related intervention has to be done.

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

3.      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.

4.      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.      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.

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

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

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

5.      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.

6.      If soils are calcareous, spray Sulphate of potash and Magnesium sulphate @ 2-3g/L depending upon leaf age during prebloom stage. 

7.      After current rains, give foliar spray of SOP @ 2-3 g/L depending upon canopy

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.      After current rains, give foliar spray of SOP @ 3 g/L depending upon canopy

4.      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. Requirement of growth regulators (Dr. S.D. Ramteke)

-          NIL

IV. Canopy Management (Dr. R.G.Somkuwar)

Following practices are suggested during the coming week 

1.      Due to continuous rainfall, the moisture is more. Hence, the root activity will be slow. The application of fertilizer through spray can be taken.

2.      Under the condition of vigorous growth, the cane maturity may get delayed.  Hence, shoot pinching, removal of side shoots is suggested. 

3.      Under delayed cane maturity, fruit pruning should be delayed depending upon pith color.

4.       Application of potash through spray and soil can be initiated to enhance cane maturity. 

5.       Bud testing should be given priority before fruit pruning. This will avoid errors in pruning. 

6.       Before the fruit pruning, disease control through biological means will support after pruning. 

7.      Opening small trench between two rows will help to remove the water from root zone. 

8.      Rainfall during bud sprouting stage may lead to conversion of bunch into tendril. To avoid this,  vigor need to be controlled. 

9.      Application of cytokinin based PGR and potassium can help to control fillage. 

10.  Removal of infected leaves at the time of fruit pruning should be given priority. 

11.  Application of hydrogen cyanamide should be based on cane diameter and temperature in the vineyard.  Higher cane thickness will require higher dose while high temperature in the vineyard will require lower dose.

12.  Before fruit pruning, the cane should have complete bud swelling.  This will help for uniform and ealy bud sprouts 

V. Disease management (Dr. Sujoy Saha)

Rains are predicted in most of the grape growing areas. At ponga stage application of copper fungicides may be done to give a protection against downy mildew. At 5-7 leaf stage application of Dimethomorph@1g/L+mancozeb 75WP@2g/L or Iprovalicarb+propineb @ 2.25g/L or Mandipropamid@ 0.8g/L or Dimethomorph +ametoctradin@0.8g/L or Amisulbrom @ 0.375 ml/L  should be done in absence of rain to protect against downy mildew. If leaves are wet, dusting of Mancozeb @3-5 kg/ acre may be done. Due to continuous rains in most of the areas anthracnose and bacterial spot may be incident in a moderate scale. Thiophenate methyl/carbendazim@1g/L should be given for anthracnose control. An application of Kasugamycin+Copper oxychloride may be given @ 0.75g/l for the management of both bacterial spot and anthracnose, but specifically it should be more effective against bacterial spot. Streptocycline should NOT be applied for the control of bacterial diseases.  Powdery mildew may be disseminated by the rain splashes and initial symptoms may be observed as soon as the rain stops. Application of triazoles like hexaconazole or difenoconazole will control powdery mildew and additional protection against anthracnose will be obtained as well. Foliar application of Trichoderma @ 2-3g/ml should be given during this time to get a control against anthracnose and downy mildew. No mixing of fungicides and biocontrol agents should be done. For any foliar spray, silicon-based adjuvant should be used.

VI.    Insect and Mite management. (Dr. D.S. Yadav)

Foundation pruning growth stage: Cane maturity and afterwards

· Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) infestation may increase in most of the grape areas as humidity is high. For the management of caterpillars, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22 g/litre or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.06 g/litre or cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.7 ml per lire water may be given.

· Mealybug population and movement of ants may be noticed under the bark. Due to build-up of relative humidity, plant wash with entomopathogenic fungi viz. Metarhizium, Beauveria and Lecanicillium may be useful for controlling mealybugs and ants.

· Do not spray any broad spectrum insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, methomyl, profenophos, etc. for mealybug control. Higher humidity will favour development of natural enemies which will slowly kill mealybugs. In case chemical spray is required, prefer buprofezin 25 SC @ 1.25 ml per litre of water for plant wash.

· Incidences of new species of stem borer (red colour larva) may be noticed under bark in Sangali, Solapur, Nashik, Pune, Bijapur grape areas. Remove the loose bark and give good plant wash mainly targeting cordons and main trunk with Metarhizium @ 2.5 ml/l.

Fruit pruning growth stage: Dormant bud to sprouting

· Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) infestation may increase in most of the grape areas as humidity is high. Caterpillars may chew on buds and new sprouts. For the management of caterpillars, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.22 g/litre or fipronil 80 WG @ 0.06 g/litre water may be given during night.

· 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.

· Give soil drenching with Metarhizium just after fruit pruning to manage thrips pupa and ants in soil.

· For flea beetle management, remove weeds from inside and around the vineyards. Harrowing may be done in inter row space once the rainy spell is over. Then give soil drenching with clothianidin 50 WDG @ 200 gram 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 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.