Nitrogênio em videira: recuperação, acumulação e alterações na produtividade e na composição da uva

Abstract

The rate of nitrogen (N) in grapevines in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Southern Brazil, is established considering N content in leaves or leaves petioles and yield expectation limits. Once N fertilization needs have been diagnosed, the N is applied in indefinite times. However, N fertilization recommendations don t consider the impact of N fertilization in the yield, the consequences on grape composition and the contribution of N of crop residues to mineral nutrition of grapevines. The objective of this work was to estimate the recovery and accumulation of N in grapevines and the effect in the yield and grape composition. Three studies were carried on. Study 1, recovery, distribution and accumulation of N fertilizer was studied, in Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines, located at Bento Gonçalves city, area of the Serra Gaúcha (experiment 1), and Santana do Livramento city, area of the Campanha (experiment 2), in RS, Southern Brazil. In the experiment 1 and 2 the plants were fertilized with 15N in four forms and, when grapes were mature, plants were fractionated, oven-dried, weighted and analysed for total N and 15N enrichment. Study 2, grape yield and composition of grapevines treated with different amounts of N were studied, in the vineyards of the Study 1. Grapes were collected when ripe and yield was evaluated. Must soluble solids, pH, total acidity, tartaric acid, malic acid, total phenols, anthocyanins and N ammonia were evaluated in part of the berries. The remaining berries were triturated and total N, P, K, Ca and Mg were evaluated. Study 3, decomposition and nutrient release by aerial organs of Lolium perenne (LP) and Trifolium repens (TR) (experiment 1), and grapevines uptake of the N derived from decomposing material (experiment 2) were studied in Chardonnay grapevines located at the experimental Station of the University of Bologna, Italy. In experiment 1, 2 g (DW) of 15N-labelled litter of LP and TR were placed into litter bags which were placed on the vineyard soil surface. Collection of bags LP and TR was performed 8 (June) and 16 (August) weeks from the deposition. Remaining biomass, 15N, N, C, P, K, Ca, Mg and S concentrations were determined. In experiment 2, 30 g plant-1 of dry litter of LP and TR were placed on the herbicided soil under the grape plants. Grapevine leaves were collected 8 and 16 weeks from litter deposition; after 16 weeks, one year (including bunches) and two years shoots were collected, oven-dried, weighted and analysed for total N and 15N enrichement. Results showed that the absorbed N is distributed and accumulated especially in leaves and that most of the N found in the plant was not derived from the fertilizers but from the organic matter already present in the soil. However, N fertilization increased grape yield in the Serra Gaúcha grapevines. The rate can be split 25% at the beginning of bud burst + 25% at bud burst + 25% at flowering + 25% at growth berries; 50% at the beginning of bud burst + 50% at bud burst and 50% at flowering + 50% at growth berries. Moreover, N fertilization altered the grape composition, especially decrease the amount of anthocyanins. LP and TR residues decomposed at the same rate, but nutrient release was different between the two species and varied according with mineral element. The amount of N that grapevines recovered from the decomposing litter was low and similar for LP and TR residues.