Spring fertilization for grapevines should not be underestimated.

“A year’s plan begins in spring,” and the spring management period before grape flowering is the cornerstone of the entire growing season. Poor management can severely compromise yield and even weaken the vine’s vigor. Among these practices, fertilization prior to flowering stands out as the most critical aspect of vineyard care.

Year-Round Fertilization Plan for Grapes

Base fertilizer application: Apply immediately after harvest; if not applied promptly, it may also be applied during the grapevine’s dormant period. Functions: Strengthen tree vigor, promote the growth of winter buds and flower bud differentiation in autumn, effectively reduce the number of male shoots the following year, and ensure fruit set and fruit quality in the second year. Supplementing with secondary and micronutrients can help prevent premature decline in tree vigor and reduce the occurrence of uneven fruit size in the subsequent season. Application method: Deep‑trench application. Fertilizer selection: ① For high‑yield orchards: 3,000–4,000 kg of well‑decomposed organic fertilizer + 100 kg of phosphate fertilizer + 30 kg of balanced compound fertilizer; ② For low‑yield orchards: 2,000–3,000 kg of well‑decomposed organic fertilizer + 80 kg of phosphate fertilizer + 20 kg of compound fertilizer; ③ For deficient…

Four Principles of Grapevine Fertilization

1. Integrated organic–inorganic fertilization for grapevines should be based on increased application of organic fertilizers while reducing chemical fertilizer inputs. Applying more organic matter raises soil organic matter content, improves the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, enhances its water- and nutrient-retention capacity, boosts microbial activity, and promotes greater efficiency in the use of chemical fertilizers. In addition to the quantity of organic fertilizer applied, attention should also be paid to the form and type of application. For example, incorporating straw return to the field and growing green manure crops with farmyard manure and commercial organic fertilizers can better build soil fertility, achieving high yields, superior quality, and sustainable development. For orchards with severe soil problems, in addition to increasing organic fertilizer applications, it is advisable to supplement with Haijingling bio‑stimulant (for root application).

Current issues in grape fertilization

1. Long-term reliance on chemical fertilizers and a severe shortage of organic fertilizers: Prolonged, heavy application of chemical fertilizers leads to soil compaction and degradation, reducing the soil’s organic matter content, microbial activity, and humic acid levels, thereby lowering fertilizer use efficiency. If only chemical fertilizers are applied over the long term, with little or no organic fertilizer, fruit quality deteriorates—coloration worsens, flesh flavor becomes weaker, physiological disorders become widespread, storage life declines, and the proportion of marketable fruits decreases. 2. Overemphasis on nitrogen fertilization and neglect of potassium: Excessive nitrogen application severely impairs grape uptake of calcium, potassium, and other nutrients, resulting in nutritional imbalances, poorly developed bud eyes, and leaf…

Fertilization requirements of grapevines

Although grapes are a vine‑type fruit tree, they possess a well‑developed root system, numerous vines with large leaves, vigorous growth, high yields, and a long lifespan; consequently, their nutrient requirements are relatively substantial. As the primary source of nutrients for grapevines, fertilizers are indispensable in production, forming the foundation for normal plant development and the production of high‑quality fruit. A distinctive feature of grape nutrition is its capacity for nutrient storage: as a perennial vine, grapes store considerable reserves in their roots and canes. In late summer and early autumn, these stored nutrients are translocated from the leaves back into the stems and roots, and in early spring, they are mobilized from the storage organs to support the continued differentiation of buds and the growth and development of new shoots, leaves, and fruits.

Key Management Points for Greenhouse Grapes in January–March