Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/591609
November 2015 WINES&VINES 27 GROUNDED GRAPEGROWING are emailed to the customer every week, al- lowing very accurate tracking of irrigation history. The company owns, installs and maintains the equipment for a flat fee. At present, this is one of the most precise and easy-to-use ways of scheduling vineyard irrigation. Fruition Sciences Fruition Sciences offers software that assists in making irrigation decisions to achieve high- quality fruit or other goals that a grapegrower wishes to achieve. The core of the service is based on sap-flow sensors placed on represen- tative vines in the vineyard block being moni- tored. The sensors surround a stem and are a nondestructive way of measuring water move- ment during transpiration. The information is measured continuously and transmitted by telemetry to a computer using Fruition Sci- ences' proprietary software. The software fea- tures a "water deficit index," which is very easy to follow. When stem sap flow falls below a threshold value (about 40%), a warning mes- sage is sent to the grower to help them make decisions about whether to irrigate. Setting up the system usually involves input- ting any mapping information that the grower has for the physical layout of the vineyard, nor- malized difference vegetation index (NDVI), NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART LAB EQUIPMENT SETTING NEW STANDARDS FOR VINE QUALITY Tefera Mekura, Lab Manager PhD in Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University Serving the Wine, table grape, and raiSin induStrieS VINTAGE NURSERIES' ADVANcED NEW TESTING LAB VINTAGE NURSERIES' NEW TESTING LAB PUTS GROWERS FIRST! At Vintage Nurseries, our vines have to pass a lot of rigid tests. Our new in-house materials testing laboratory equipment with RNA detection introduces a whole new level of quality control built on faster turnaround, increased sample sizes and thorough attention to detail. It's just another way we continue to strive to provide the best possible plant material in the industry. WAScO 661.758.4777 SANTA ROSA 707.542.5510 PASO ROBLES 805.237.8914 800.499.9019 VintageNurseries.com SIX WAYS TO USE LESS IRRIGATION WATER As a long-term strategy, winegrowers should be planning to use less water to grow fruit. These are some pointers that I have written about in the past that are helpful to accomplish this: 1 Design vineyards with differential water- ing to closely match soil changes. 2 Use water-efficient (usually vigorous) rootstocks. It is usually easier to devigo- rate vines than to make them grow well without water. 3 On soils with low vigor potential, space vines closer together, anticipating that they are going to be smaller. 4 Anticipate dry years by match- ing your vine canopy size to available water resources. Count bud numbers and increase or decrease them based on projected rainfall and water supplies. 5 When water is limited, ration your water to apply it judiciously at critical growth stages: before bud break, before bloom, at véraison, and try to save some water to apply late to avoid dehydration before reaching critical harvesting criteria. 6 Keep your system in top condition. Avoid leaks, keep filters working well and emitters running at top efficiency and uniformity. Match vine canopy size to available water supply.