Malbec Set Enhancement

Lodi 2006

University of California Cooperative Extension Sustainable

Definition-

"A sustainable agriculture is one that, over the long term, enhances environmental quality and the resource base on which agriculture depends; provides for basic human food and fiber needs; is economically viable; and enhances the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."

Practices and materials that are Environmentally Acceptable Economically Viable Socially Desirable Sustainable Viticulture

Alternate Definition-

Income is more than Outgo over the long haul. (Yields that are acceptable and consistent) Bloom and Set

Malbec Factors Affecting Set

• Weather • Variety • Rootstock • Soil • Trellis System • Nutrients • Crop Load • Water Availability • Disease Variety/Rootstock

• Vegetative Vigor • Productivity – Cluster Number –Flower Set – Berry Development • Growth Period • Physiological Balance – Carbohydrate, Nitrogen, Micro-nutrients, and Plant hormones Primitivo 2006

Primitivo 2005 Malbec 2003 2006 Malbec FPS 09 Malbec 09/Freedom Weather

• Temperature (average) – 65 ˚ to 70˚ F

• Light Intensity • Relative Humidity (anthers & pollen) • Rain (pollen)

Schioppetino 2006 Schioppetino 2005 & 2003 2006 Montepulciano 2006 Picolit 2006 2003 Picolit

Grenache 2003 Soil – Water Availability - Nutrients

• Soil (indirect) – Depth –Texture • Water available (Liberty Malbec) • Nutrients –Macro –Micro Present versus Applied Excess versus deficiency Micro-Nutrients Boron Deficiency and Symphony Merlot 2006 Merlot 2005 Trellis System – Crop Load

• Bud Load • Crop Load • Openness of Fruit Zone • Shoot Orientation • Competition (spacing)

Malbec Zinfandel Grenache Merlot Symphony Merlot and Malbec Primitivo Plavac mali Disease • Fan Leaf Virus • Grapevine Yellow Vein Virus Factors Affecting Set

• Variety

• Weather • Soil • Disease

• Rootstock • Trellis System

• Crop Load • Water Availability • Nutrients Site

• Sub-appellation: Jahant • Soil: San Joaquin loam • Planted: 1998 • Clone: Malbec Opus One • Rootstock: SO 4 • Trellis: Vertical Shoot Position • Spacing: 9 x 8 feet (2.75m x 2.44m) • Irrigation: Above ground drip Treatments

• Shoot Tipping Removal of 3 to 4 Inches Early Bloom (May 18) Late Bloom (May 26)

• Prestige 2 & 4 grams A.I. /acre May 18 • Acadian 3 pints / acre 5X May 18 (1% bloom) May 26 (Full bloom) June 8 (pea size) July 7 () July 27 (full color) Before Shoot Tipping Shoot Tipped

Shoot Tipping 18 May 2006 2006 October 7

Malbec Set Enhancement Harvest Yield 2006

Pounds Clusters Cluster Wt. Berry Wt. Per vine Number lbs grams TPA Shoot Tipping 32.6 90 0.36 1.63 9.9 Early Bloom Shoot Tipping 33.6 91 0.37 1.59 10.2 Late Bloom Prestige 36.5 89 0.41 1.58 11.1 2 g/Acre Prestige 32.5 93 0.35 1.61 9.8 4 g/Acre Acadian 31.0 85 0.36 1.61 9.4

Control 32.1 93 0.35 1.64 9.7

NSD NSD NSD NSD NSD

P = 0.05% confidence level Early Bloom = Approximately 1 - 5% 19 May Late Bloom = Approximately > 75% 23 May Malbec Set Enhancement Lodi-Jahant 2006

14 12 11.1 Early Shoot Tip 10 Late Shoot Tip 9.9 10.2 9.8 9.4 9.7 8 Prestige 2g Prestige 4g 6 Acadian Tons per Acre per Tons 4 Control 2 0

Juice Analysis 7 October 2006 Brix T.A. g/L pH

Shoot Tipping 24.0 ab 3.8 4.02 Early

Shoot Tipping 24.1 ab 3.8 3.92 Late

Prestige 23.6 b 3.7 3.82 2 g

Prestige 23.6 b 3.7 3.80 4 g Acadian 23.8 b 3.8 3.72 Control 24.7 a 3.8 3.63

NSD NSD

P = 5% Malbec Set Enhancemant Lodi 2006

Control 24.7a Acadian 23.8ab Prestige 4g 23.6 b 23.6 b Prestige 2g 24.1ab Late Shoot Tip 24.0ab EarlyShoot Tip

0.0 3.0 6.0 9.0 12.0 15.0 18.0 21.0 24.0 27.0 30.0

Brix at Harvest October 7 Malbec Set Enhancement Lodi-Jahant 2006

30.0 24.0 24.1 24.7 25.0 23.6 23.6 23.8 Early Shoot Tip 20.0 Late Shoot Tip Prestige 2g 15.0

Brix Prestige 4g 10.0 Acadian Control 5.0

0.0 Malbec Set Enhancemant Lodi 2006

30.0 24.0 24.1 23.6 23.6 23.8 24.7 EarlyShoot Tip 25.0 Late Shoot Tip 20.0 Prestige 2g 15.0 Prestige 4g Brix 10.0 Acadian 5.0 Control 0.0 Harvest October 7 Malbec Set Enhancement 2006 Yield per Acre

11.50

11.00

10.50

10.00 tons/acre

9.50

9.00

8.50 g n ly te g 4 a l r 2 e i o a a e d tr E L g tig a n p ti c o ip i s s A T T e re C t t r P o o P o o h h Treatments S S Malbec Set Enhancment 2006 Yield per Acre

12.00

10.00

8.00

6.00

4.00

2.00 y rl te g g a a 2 4 n l E L e ia o p g e d tr ip i ti ig a n T T s t c o 0.00 t t e s o o r ie A C o o P r h h P S S

Treatments Malbec Set Enhancement 2006 Tons per Acre Graph Presentation 11.50

11.00 By different scales

10.50

10.00 tons/acre

9.50

9.00

8.50 y g g n rl te 2 4 ia l a a e d ro E L e ig a t p ig t c n ip i t s A o T T s re C t t re o o P P o o h h Treatments Malbec Set Enhancment S S 2006 Yield per Acre

Minimum = 8.5 12.00 10.00

8.00

6.00 tons/acre 4.00

2.00

Minimum = 0.0 0.00 y l rl te g g n ro a a 2 4 a t E L e e i n p g ig d o ip i ti t ca C T T s s t t e ie A o o r r o o P P h h Treatments S S Cost Comparison

Treatment Applications Cost per Acre Shoot tipping 1X at $7.50/hr $84.00* Prestige 1X at 2 g/acre $45.00** Acadian 5X at 3 pt/acre $156.25**

* Includes 40% of wages for taxes and contractor ** Includes spray application cost of $20 /application Comparison of Yield Increase Needed

Pounds per Acre Increase needed to pay cost $45 $84 $156.25 $600 per ton 150 280 521

Pounds per Vine Increase needed to pay cost

$600 per ton 0.25 0.46 0.86 Summary • Variety •Soil • Vineyard Design – Rootstock – Trellis & Spacing • Inputs – Water –Nutrients • Vine Balance – Crop Load • Disease Thanks To

Aaron Lange and Kelly Brakel of LangeTwins John Knapp, KIM-C1, LLC Valent U.S.A Acadian AgriTech Scott Whitely, San Joaquin County Research Technician Debra Boelk, UC Staff Research Associate Randall Wittie, UC Technician

Lodi District Grape Growers Association “ There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth…The third is by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry.”

Benjamin Franklin Remember Those Serving Our Nation