Abstract
Past irrigation research in Marlborough showed that reducing irrigation on grapes by up to 60% would not have any impact on yield, but that the timing of the irrigation might be important for maintenance of yields. A research trial was set up with Sauvignon blanc grapes planted in containers; periods of water stress were applied for three weeks at different times of the growing season. During the three years of the trial the post-flowering (PO-F) period was consistently most sensitive to water stress. At harvest time, the crop yields for the PO-F water-stressed vines were 55%, 72% and 90% of control yields for the three consecutive years, and the bunch weights were 59%, 84% and 95%. Berry weights for the PO-F water-stressed vines were 87%, 96% and 73% of the control values, although the second-year difference was not significant. In two years out of three, there was a trend for PO-F and pre-veraison (PR-V) water-stressed vines to have the lowest berry soluble solids contents ( degrees Brix), indicating a delay in maturity. We suggest that to use irrigation sustainably, it is safe to reduce water applications for most of the season, but that immediately after flowering, any water stress should be avoided. During the period leading up to veraison, some mild water stress can be applied.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Post-flowering was the most sensitive period to water stress.
Verbatim
e0“the post-flowering (PO-F) period was consistently most sensitive to water stress”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
Post-flowering stress reduced crop yields to 55%, 72% and 90% of controls across three years.
- Taxon
- grapest0
- Treatment
- PO-F water-stressede0
- Outcome
- crop yieldse0
- Value
- 55%, 72% and 90%e0
- Comparator
- control yieldse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“the crop yields for the PO-F water-stressed vines were 55%, 72% and 90% of control yields for the three consecutive years”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
Post-flowering stress reduced bunch weights to 59%, 84% and 95% of controls.
Not reportedTreatmentComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“the bunch weights were 59%, 84% and 95%”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
Post-flowering stress yielded berry weights of 87%, 96% and 73% of control values; year two was not significant.
- Taxon
- grapest0
- Treatment
- PO-F water-stressede0
- Outcome
- Berry weightse0
- Value
- 87%, 96% and 73%e0
- Qualifier
- second-year difference was not significante0
- Comparator
- control valuese0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Berry weights for the PO-F water-stressed vines were 87%, 96% and 73% of the control values, although the second-year difference was not significant”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
Post-flowering and pre-veraison stress tended to lower berry soluble solids in two of three years.
- Taxon
- grapest0
- Treatment
- PO-F and pre-veraison (PR-V) water-stressede0
- Outcome
- berry soluble solids contentse0
- Direction
- loweste0
- Qualifier
- In two years out of threee0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“In two years out of three, there was a trend for PO-F and pre-veraison (PR-V) water-stressed vines to have the lowest berry soluble solids contents ( degrees Brix), indicating a delay in maturity”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend avoiding water stress immediately after flowering.
Verbatim
e0“immediately after flowering, any water stress should be avoided”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors say mild water stress can be applied before veraison.
Verbatim
e0“During the period leading up to veraison, some mild water stress can be applied”
t0“Sauvignon blanc grapes”
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