Effectiveness of Adept and Amino Energy Agro.Bio humic fertilizers on vineyards
Very few studies have been published on the influence of humic acids on grape cultivation. Experiments that examined the effect of potassium humates on planting material quality yielded good results. Currently, peat-mineral-ammonia humic fertilizers are of greatest industrial importance, but they have not yet been applied to grapes anywhere. Therefore, it was first necessary to establish an effective application rate, taking into account the soil and climatic conditions of cultivation and varietal characteristics, and compare their effectiveness with an equivalent set of mineral fertilizers.
This article, dedicated to addressing this issue, also presents data from experiments where grape cuttings were soaked in potassium humate to improve planting material quality. The experiments were conducted in Kherson, Odessa, and Zakarpattia regions.
Research results
Humic fertilizers Adept and Amino Energy were applied between vineyard rows using specialized tractor equipment (Odessa region) and locally under the bush during inter-row plowing (Zakarpattia region). Plot areas ranged from 200-1000 m² with three or four replications. Before fertilizer application, 20 typical (model) bushes were selected on each experimental plot for all biometric measurements and phenological observations. During yield assessment, clusters were collected separately from each model bush and from the entire experimental plot. When harvesting from model bushes, the number of clusters, average cluster weight, weight of 100 berries, sugar content by specific gravity, and titratable acidity were determined. Yield data from all experiments were processed mathematically.
It was found that all studied varieties responded positively to the application of Adept and Amino Energy humic fertilizers, but to varying degrees. This is likely related to the biological characteristics of the varieties and the soil-climatic conditions of the experiments.
According to yield data obtained from several grape varieties in Zakarpattia region, the best results were achieved with the local application of 4 l/ha Amino Energy for autumn-winter storage.
Adept and Amino Energy humic fertilizers also had a positive effect on grape quality. For example, sugar content in berries increased by an average of 1.5-2%.
In Kherson region, Adept applied between rows contributed to increased yield and higher sugar content in berries (Table 1).
In an experiment conducted in Odessa region (Table 2), increasing the Amino Energy dose to 4 l/ha for the Rkatsiteli grape variety provided a slight yield increase and quality improvement compared to a lower dose, but slightly reduced sugar content.
Humic fertilizers applied to vineyards have a positive effect on yield not only in the first year but also in subsequent years.
On ordinary chernozem in Odessa region, the best results for both studied grape varieties in terms of immediate and residual effects were obtained with an application of 4 l/ha. Therefore, increasing the dose to 6 or more liters per hectare is considered impractical.
Slightly different data were obtained on brown forest soils in Zakarpattia region (Table 3). With focal application, 6 l/ha Amino Energy provided significant effects both in the year of application and in residual effects. Even higher doses of humic fertilizers are necessary on carbonate chernozem and limestone-rubble soils in Kherson region.
On calcareous soils, it is recommended to apply Adept at a rate of 4 l/ha on carbonate soil and 6 l/ha on limestone-rubble soil (Table 4).
| Experiment variants | Variety No. 1 Kokur | Variety No. 2 Chaush | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluster yield, c/ha | % | Sugar content, % | Titratable acidity | Cluster yield, c/ha | % | |
| Control | 22.2 | 100.0 | 20.0 | 4.6 | 3.97 | 100.0 |
| Adept, 4 l/ha | 26.1 | 118.5 | 22.0 | 4.9 | 4.45 | 112.1 |
| N311P46, equivalent to Adept 4 l/ha | 22.0 | 99.0 | 21.8 | 4.6 | х | х |
| Humofos, 6 l/ha | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5.63 | 141.8 |
| N70Р30, equivalent to 6 l/ha Adept | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4.12 | 103.8 |
| Note: Х --- not determined. P experiment = 4.3%; 1.3%. | ||||||
| Experiment scheme | Cluster yield | Average cluster weight, g | Average weight of 100 berries, g | Sugar content, % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c/ha | % | ||||
| Control | 48.7 | 100.0 | 89.0 | 178.9 | 20.4 |
| Amino Energy, 4 l/ha | 55.9 | 114.8 | 104.1 | 205.8 | 23.4 |
| Amino Energy, 6 l/ha | 56.4 | 115.8 | 98.9 | 219.4 | 21.8 |
| N12P12K6, equivalent to 4 l/ha Amino Energy | 51.7 | 106.2 | 97.5 | 194.4 | 20.7 |
| Note: P experiment = 5.4%. | |||||
| Experiment variants | Control field No.1 | Control field No.2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect, 2019 | Aftereffect, 2020 | Effect, 2019 | Aftereffect, 2020 | |||||
| Yield, c/ha | Yield, % | Yield, c/ha | Yield, % | Yield, c/ha | Yield, % | Yield, c/ha | Yield, % | |
| Control | 85.9 | 100.0 | 70.5 | 100.0 | 46.7 | 100.0 | 56.0 | 100.0 |
| Amino Energy, 1.5 l/ha | 103.2 | 120.1 | 85.6 | 121.4 | 59.2 | 126.7 | 71.0 | 126.7 |
| Amino Energy, 2 l/ha | 110.2 | 128.4 | 96.1 | 136.3 | 66.5 | 142.3 | 77.6 | 138.5 |
| Amino Energy, 4 l/ha | 112.0 | 130.2 | 92.6 | 131.3 | х | х | х | х |
| Amino Energy, 6 l/ha | 96.0 | 111.6 | 87.1 | 123.5 | 68.1 | 145.8 | 68.3 | 121.9 |
| NPK, equivalent to 4 l/ha Amino Energy | 105.6 | 122.8 | 75.9 | 107.6 | х | х | х | х |
| Note: Х --- not determined. P experiment = 3.05%; 5.1%; 3.7%; 6.5%. | ||||||||
| Experiment variants | Effect, 2019 | Aftereffect, 2020 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield, c/ha | Average cluster weight, g | Average weight of 100 berries, g | Sugar content, % | Yield, c/ha | Average cluster weight, g | Average weight of 100 berries, g | Sugar content, % | |||||
| c/ha | % | c/ha | % | |||||||||
| Carbonate chernozem. Muscat variety | ||||||||||||
| Control | 111.9 | 100 | 152.2 | 220 | 18.5 | 131.2 | 100 | 175 | 243 | 18.7 | ||
| Adept, 4 l/ha | 144.9 | 129.4 | 174 | 245 | 17.8 | 157.1 | 119.9 | 180 | 302 | 18.4 | ||
| Adept, 6 l/ha | 147.0 | 131.3 | 169.5 | 275 | 17.6 | 143.5 | 109.4 | 177 | 290 | 21.3 | ||
| Limestone-rubble soil. Kokur variety | ||||||||||||
| Control | 112.8 | 100 | 212.6 | 253 | 20.1 | 40.9 | 100 | -- | 153 | 18.5 | ||
| Adept, 4 l/ha | 123.9 | 109.7 | 228.5 | 252 | 20.8 | 55.1 | 134.1 | -- | 179 | 21.4 | ||
| Adept, 6 l/ha | 138.8 | 123 | 228.2 | 277 | 21.5 | 48.5 | 123 | -- | 187 | 21.5 | ||
| Note: For Muscat variety in 2019 P experiment = 7.3%, in 2020 P = 5.5%; for Kokur variety in 2019 P experiment = 8.4%, in 2020 P = 4.9%. | ||||||||||||
In experiments studying the effect of humates when soaking cuttings on their growth and rooting, we used liquid humic fertilizers Adept and Amino Energy, both pure and containing one or a complex of microelements. When preparing the working solution, the amount of preparation was calculated based on the content of water-soluble humic acids.
Cuttings were soaked in early spring for 24 hours in solutions of the above preparations with a humic acid concentration of 0.005%. For soaking, relatively identical cuttings with an equal number of buds and the same diameter were selected, 100 pieces for each variant.
Cuttings soaked in this way were planted in Kherson region in a nursery, and in another control field - in a permanent plantation location. Additionally, for a more detailed study of the root system of rooted cuttings, they were planted in sand boxes with a nutrient mixture.
In autumn, when digging up seedlings before planting in a permanent location, they were sorted by planting quality. The results of seedling analysis show that all studied varieties respond positively to soaking in preparations from the manufacturer Agro.Bio.
At the same time, the studied varieties have selective ability to the microelements included in the humates.
In the experiment on soaking cuttings of Muscat grapes in Kherson region, the best results were obtained with potassium humate containing manganese. The shoot length on this variant averaged 15 cm in September, compared to 11.6 cm in the control.
In experiments conducted in Odessa region, the effect of soaking cuttings in a 0.005% humate solution and planting watering on the quality of own-rooted and grafted seedlings was studied (Table 5).
The table data show that soaking rootstock and scion in humates increases seedling survival compared to the control, promotes shoot growth and maturation, i.e., improves seedling quality.
The use of humates on own-rooted cuttings of the Kabasia variety also has a positive effect, especially when combining cutting soaking with humate watering.
| Experiment variants | Kabasia (own-rooted), 2019 | Karaburnu (grafted), 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survival, % | Number of leaves, pcs. | Number of shoots, pcs. | Shoot length, cm | Survival, % | Seedling yield, % | Shoot length, cm | Length of matured shoot part, cm | |
| Water | 40.0 | 48.9 | 5.1 | 48.7 | 88.4 | 43.7 | 24.7 | 19.5 |
| Humate + watering with water | 44.4 | 53.9 | 4.7 | 62.1 | 90.3 | 57.5 | 31.1 | 25.6 |
| Humate + watering with humate | 62.2 | 58.2 | 5.5 | 64.7 | 95.2 | -- | 31.1 | 26.3 |
| Note: For grafting the Karaburnu variety, Riparia and Rupestris 101-14 varieties were used as rootstocks. In 2019 Adept was used, in 2020 --- Amino Energy. Х --- not determined. | ||||||||
In 2019 Adept was used, and in 2020 - Amino Energy Х - not determined.
In the experiment studying doses of humic fertilizer for local application under own-rooted and grafted seedlings in Odessa region, it was found that the best dose of Amino Energy is 4 l/ha. This amount of fertilizer under own-rooted seedlings contributed to better survival and increased seedling growth compared to the control and a higher dose of the preparation.
The organo-mineral mixture at a dose of 3 t/ha was less effective compared to an equal amount of Amino Energy preparation, despite containing several times more nutrients and consisting of 2.5t humus, 2 c superphosphate, 2 c ammonium nitrate, and 1 c potassium salt.
Conclusions
- Grapes are a crop responsive to the application of Amino Energy and Adept Agro.Bio humic fertilizers.
- When determining humic fertilizer application rates, soil-climatic conditions and varietal characteristics must be considered.
- Recommended application rates:
- On ordinary chernozem in Odessa region --- 4 l/ha.
- On brown forest soils in Zakarpattia --- 4-6 l/ha.
- On brown, leached rubble chernozem in Kherson region --- 5 l/ha.
- On carbonate chernozem --- 4 l/ha.
- On limestone-rubble soil --- 6 l/ha.
- Soaking cuttings and watering seedlings in nurseries with 0.005% humate solutions positively affects planting material rooting and increases the yield of first-class seedlings.