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Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2010 Publication Date: 10/1/2010 Citation: Baumgartner, K. 2010. Microbial Ecology in Vineyards. Trade Journal Publication. CAPCA Adviser. 11:42-43. Interpretive Summary: Soil health affects grapevine health, which, in turn, affects fruit quality. Soil health has chemical, physical, and biological components. The chemical components are the best understood, and there are relatively convenient methods to both evaluate and amend chemical soil fertility. The physical component, which consists of soil strength, aeration, and water availability, is understood, but is difficult to evaluate. Also, methods for improving the physical component of soil health are feasible only during vineyard establishment, and are thus not as convenient as methods for improving chemical soil fertility. The biological component, aside from soil-borne pathogens, is the most poorly understood, in both taxonomic and functional terms. Methods to evaluate the biological component are not convenient. Furthermore, for the majority of microbes that have been identified in vineyard soils, there is not a clear link between their quantities in the soil and a specific aspect of vine health, such as petiole concentrations of Nitrogen. Therefore, manipulating populations of soil microbes and/or their species composition for the purposes of improving vine health is still in the experimental stages. Technical Abstract: Soil health affects grapevine health, which, in turn, affects fruit quality. Soil health has chemical, physical, and biological components. The chemical components are the best understood, and there are relatively convenient methods to both evaluate and amend chemical soil fertility. The physical component, which consists of soil strength, aeration, and water availability, is understood, but is difficult to evaluate. Also, methods for improving the physical component of soil health are feasible only during vineyard establishment, and are thus not as convenient as methods for improving chemical soil fertility. The biological component, aside from soil-borne pathogens, is the most poorly understood, in both taxonomic and functional terms. Methods to evaluate the biological component are not convenient. Furthermore, for the majority of microbes that have been identified in vineyard soils, there is not a clear link between their quantities in the soil and a specific aspect of vine health, such as petiole concentrations of Nitrogen. Therefore, manipulating populations of soil microbes and/or their species composition for the purposes of improving vine health is still in the experimental stages. |
