Handbook for Irrigation of Wine Grapes in South Africa

Chapter 7

FIGURE 7.29. Ridges increase the soil surface area which will enhance evaporation losses from soil. Figure 7.30

300

Budbreak

Véraison

Harvest

250

200

150

100

SWC (mm/90 cm)

Control (unridged) 60 cm High, double row ridge

50

0

87-09-12 87-10-03 87-10-24 87-11-14 87-12-05 87-12-26 88-01-16 88-02-06

FIGURE 7.30. Variation in soil water in the 0 to 90 cm soil layer of unridged soil and 60 cm high double row ridges in the 1987/88 season (adapted from Myburgh, 1989b). The grapevines were grown without irrigation.

IRRIGATION OF WINE GRAPES 217