D1 the growing environment - Nutrients

Question 1

Nutrients

Answer 1

Nutrients have an influence on yield and grape quality.

• NITROGEN and MAGNESIUM are key for photosynthesis (component of Chlorophyll) therefore key for vigour and quality of grape.
  Too much causes excessive vegetative growth, hindering ripening and causing shading.
  Too little reduces vigour, therefore reducing vine growth and yield and delaying ripening.
• PHOSPHORUS is important for photosynthesis and is naturally found in the soil.
• CALCIUM is important for the structure of the vine cells and in photosynthesis.
  Too little cause problems with fruit set.
• POTASSIUM regulate the flow of water.
  Very high can cause problem in the uptake of Magnesium.
  High level is also linked to high PH.

Question 2

Natural factor that effect nutrients availability - Soil

Answer 2

Nutrients dissolve in water.
Therefore, soil’s texture and structure influence nutrients availability.

The texture describes the proportions of sand, silt and clay:
- Sand, gravel and pebbles promote water drainage, therefore lower water/nutrients holding capacity.
- Clay holds water/nutrients and release it slowly.
- Silt sits in the middle of the two.

The structure describes the firmness (important for water drainage, root growth and workability):
- Sand, gravel and pebbles are easy to penetrate but need something to bind together like clay or humus.
- Clay soils are sticky and hard for the roots to penetrate.
- Humus bind soils together, retain water/nutrients and improve structure.
(Humus is organic matter formed by decomposition of manure by soil microbes)

Slopes soils are thinner therefore less fertile.