Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
• Low-potential sites need closer vine spacings, and high-potential sites need
wider spacing.
• Between-vine (in-row) spacing has a greater effect on yield and quality than
between-row spacing.
• Vines in-row should be far enough apart to provide enough cordon space
for a balanced fruit load.
• The effects on vine growth of a high potential site can be modified by the
type of trellising.
A discussion of the rationale behind these principles follows.
Low-potential sites
. Vines will naturally be small because of soil limitations,
hence close spacing should be used to increase the production per ha. As plant-
ing density increases, the competition between vine roots for water and nutrients
increases. If the competition for water is too severe post-veraison, irrigation can
be used. Canopies are less dense and more open than on high-potential sites, al-
lowing more light to the fruit and enhanced ripening, especially in cool climate
regions.
Vines in-row should be close enough that there are no gaps between them
when they are mature, yet they should be far enough apart for an adequate num-
ber of buds to be left after pruning to achieve a properly balanced vine. The in-
row spacing can be as close as 1 m. Between-row spacing depends on the type of
trellising to be used and the size of the machinery available for spraying and other
cultural operations. A Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) trellis is commonly used
on low-potential sites. With over-the-vine equipment, such as that used in France,
rows can be as close as 1 m apart. In this case, the vines need to be trimmed to
a height no greater than the row spacing to avoid too much mutual shading of
the canopies (fig. 8.5). In many Medoc and Côte d'Or vineyards in France, the
Vineyard near Bordeaux with close planting and vine trimming. Photograph by the author.
Figure 8.5
