Things I tend to forget Flashcards
1
Q
Why is nitrogen important to the vine?
A
- Nitrogen is essential for vine growth and can have a major impact on vine vigour and on grape quality.
- It is a component of proteins and chlorophyll (required for photosynthesis
2
Q
What can too much nitrogen cause?
A
- Excessive vegetative growth, with sugars being diverted to the growing shoots and leaves rather than the grapes, hindering ripening.
- An excess of shoots and leaves in the canopy can cause shading of fruit and buds and poor ventilation (leading to fungal disease) unless adequately managed
3
Q
What can too little nitrogen cause?
A
- reduced vigour and yellowing of vine leaves
- Grapes that have low nitrogen levels can also be problematic for fermentation
4
Q
Why is potassium important to the vine?
A
Essential for vine growth and helps regulate the flow of water in the vine
5
Q
What can too much potassium cause?
A
- Very high potassium levels in soils can cause problems in the uptake of magnesium, and this may lead to reduced yields and poor ripening.
- High potassium levels in the soil can lead to high potassium levels within the grapes. This has a significant effect on wine quality, as high levels of potassium in the grape must are linked to high pH
6
Q
What can too little potassium cause?
A
- low sugar accumulation in the grapes,
- reduced grape yields and
- poor vine growth in general
7
Q
Why is phosphorus important to the vine?
A
- Important for photosynthesis.
- Vines need only a small amount, and usually there is enough phosphorus naturally present in the soil
8
Q
What can too little phosphorus cause?
A
- Poorly developed root systems (and hence a diminished ability to take up water and nutrients)
- Reduced vine growth
- Lower yields
9
Q
Why is calcium important to the vine?
A
Calcium has an important role in the structure of plant cells and in photosynthesis
10
Q
What is the effect of too little calcium?
A
Calcium deficiency is rare but can have a negative influence on fruit set
11
Q
Why is magnesium important to the vine?
A
Found in chlorophyll and has a key role in photosynthesis
12
Q
What is the effect of too little magnesium?
A
- reduced grape yields
- poor ripening
