Effect of irrigation levels on yield and quality of Cabernet Sauvignon vines of wine grapes under semiarid tropics of India

Abstract

To improve quality of wine grapes, it is necessary to strike balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. Thus, developing irrigation schedule becomes important in managing vine vigour, which in turn helps in reducing the berry size, which is one of the main requirements for wine making. A three year (2010-11 to 2012-13) study was conducted to develop irrigation schedule for Cabernet Sauvignon, wherein six treatments with various replenishment rates based upon pan evaporation at different crop growth stages were compared. All the treatments proved similar statistically in respect of yield and yield related parameters. Lower values of tartaric: malic acid ratios were observed in T1 and T6 treatments than others. Treatment T6 showed highest water use efficiency (84.30 kg of grapes/ mm) of irrigation water applied. The irrigation water applied was least in T6 treatment (209.7 mm) apart from 192 mm rainfall. Even though least irrigation was provided to vines till harvesting in treatment T6, nevertheless moisture stored in the soil profile was sufficient to meet the crop need. Thus, irrigation schedule (T6) with minimal irrigation has been found to produce fairly good yield and quality grapes, which can be comparable with other treatments providing higher quantity irrigation to vines.