Understanding Vineyard Soils Flashcards
R.E. White (2009) (199 cards)
How many species of plant parasitic nematodes have been recorded on grapevines?
60
Name the four main species of Plant Parasitic Nematodes
Root-Knot
Root-Lesion
Dagger
Citrus
Which nematode is a vector for fan leaf virus? You need to know the Linnaean Taxonomy.
California Dagger Nematode or Xiphenema Index
What pre-planting fumigants can be used in vineyard soils for nematodes?
Furfural & Dichloropropene
Which soil type encourages nematodes the most?
Sand.
What are the four foundation species of rootstock?
Vitis Berlandieri
Vitis Rupestris
Vitis Riparis
Vitis Champinii
What are the three chemical tests for soil biological health?
- Soil Microbial Biomass
- Soil Organic Carbon
- Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen
Do manures effectively combat soil acidification?
Yes.
What is Bio-Char?
Charcoal used as a soil amendment made from pyrolised biomass.
What would be the best cover crop in high vigour sites with high water availability?
Perennials such as Chickory for structural improvement and to maintain soil structure.
What cover crops are best for high winter rainfall and dry summer sites?
Winter annuals such as oats, barley or ryegrass that can be sown in summer and don’t compete for water during the growing season.
What are the four advantages of cover crops for soil texture?
Cover crops:
- Improve structure
- Help with the infiltration of water
- Improve soil strength
- Help with drainage
What are three chemical functions of soil organic matter?
Soil organic matter functions to:
- Cation exchange
- Soil pH
- Binding soil organic matter to soil minerals
What are three biological properties of soil organic matter?
Biologically, soil organic matter:
- Is an energy source
- Is a nutrient reservoir
- Assists with resistance of infection
What are three physical properties of soil organic matter?
Physically, soil organic matter:
- Helps with structure and stability
- Assists with water retention
- Acts as a thermal regulator
What is a bio-pesticide?
A naturally occurring bacterium or parasite that acts as an insecticide in a vineyard.
Name a specific bio-pesticide and describe it’s mechanism of action.
Bacillus Thuringiensis is a is a Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium that occurs naturally in the gut of caterpillars of various types of moths and butterflies. During sporulation, many Bt strains produce crystal proteins called δ-endotoxins, that have insecticidal action on nematodes.
What is a brand name of a bio-inoculant?
Trich-a-Soil (Australia)
What are the three major constituents of bio-inoculants and what are their functions?
Gibberellins (GA’s): Regulate developmental processes including stem elongation and flowering.
Auxins: Phytohormones that dominate external stimulus response to light.
Cytokinins (CK): Hormones that promote cell division in roots and shoots.
What are the two advantages of micro-jets for irrigation?
- They deliver water a higher rate
- They better distribute water on sand, allowing cover crops in warm climates with sandy soils where drip irrigation would drain much faster with much less cover.
What are the 4 determining factors of irrigation method?
- Topography and soil type
- Availability and price of water
- Capital cost of installation
- Skill of vineyard staff
What are the 4 best practices of soil salinity management?
- Keep the leaching requirement as low as possible by using low-saline irrigation water.
- Use salt-tolerant rootstocks such as 1103Paulsen or Ramsey.
- Match the application of water to the vine demand using visual and ET data.
- Monitor drainage
What are two non-mechanical ways to improve soil drainage?
- Gypsum
2. Fibrous root grasses or deep tap root cover cropping.
What are three mechanical methods to improve soil drainage?
- Deep ripping
- Perforated PVC ‘aggi’ pipes
- Avoid compaction through eschewing machinery use.