Abstract

Nutritional survey carried out in different grape growing regions of the country have revealed that the grape growers are applying as high as 600 to 800 kg each of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O per ha every year accounting for 30 to 40% of an annual occurring costs. Nutrients influence yield and quality of grapes through vine growth. A systematic investigation was conducted on soil fertility status of the low and high yielding vineyards in Bijapur taluk. Sixty vineyards were surveyed. Out of 60, 30 vineyards were selected based on previous year yield data for the purpose of collecting soil and petiole samples. The vineyards which produced less than 10 tonnes per acre and those which produced more than 10 tonnes per acre were categorized as low yielding and high yielding vineyards, respectively. All the soils belong to clay in texture. The pH of soils was alkaline in reaction (8.19 to 8.50). The soils were non saline. The organic carbon content of the soils ranged from medium to high. The CEC of the soil ranged from 49.45 to 55.05 and 50.03 to 57.75 coml. (p+) kg^-1. The available nitrogen content of the soils ranged from 161.90 to 212.21 and 193.50 to 233.47 kg ha^-1. The available phosphorus content in the soils ranged from 18.64 to 31.42 and 22.45 to 34.50 kg ha^-1. The available potassium content of the soil ranged from 432.64 to 472.81 and 430.64 to 543.39 kg ha^-1 in the low and high yielding vineyards, respectively.

Key words: Vineyards, nutrition, texture, alkaline.