VERMICOMPOST, HUMIC ACID AND UREA PULVERIZATIONS AS SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ON THE FACE OF CLIMATIC EXTREMITIES TO INCREASE GRAPE YIELD AND QUALITY

Abstract

Sustainable viticulture could enable efficient, cost-effective, environment friendly and low carbon footprint in grape production. Reducing the adverse impact of fertilizers on environment is one of the key issues for sustainable grape growing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cost-effective low-impact leaf fertilizers on grapevines under continental climate condition. In this context, canopy pulverizations with urea, humic acid pulverization, and vermicompost (liquid earthworm manure) were compared with control (no foliar application) using four years old grapevines of Alphonse Lavallée’. Treatments significantly increased the shoot length and thickness of grapevines. The highest cluster weights were obtained from vermicompost and humic acid with similar impacts. These treatments also remarkably enhanced the berry detachment and skin rupture forces as essential features determining the market life of table grapes. The findings could provide a practical basis for evaluating precision viticulture applications to support grapevine growth and yield under continental climates where cold damages and degraded soil conditions frequently restrict the agriculture.