Management of wine grapes with limited water in North East Victoria
Abstract
Management of wine grapes with limited water in North East Victoria
Summary
Wine grape growers consider efficient water management an essential component of their vineyard management. This has been highlighted by the recent dry seasons and growers are increasingly aware of their need to improve irrigation practices, especially water management for their individual vineyards and local climate.
Two workshops were presented by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in collaboration with the Winemakers of Rutherglen. Ian Goodwin from DPI Tatura was engaged as technical specialist and Paul Blackshaw, DPI Rutherglen, facilitated the workshops.
The workshops provided participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage risks associated with limited water availability and to improve their water management techniques. It enabled participants to benchmark their vineyard against others with respect to water management, and participants had the opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and ideas with their peers.
Twenty two growers attended the first workshop, and six attended the follow up workshop. Activities included examining a soil pit for soil texture and root distribution, and discussion of the influence on irrigation management. Growers also discussed evaporation levels, crop factors, readily available water (RAW), deficit available water (DAW), water budgeting and irrigation scheduling. Growers were provided with a worksheet to take home and collect information, and practical examples using this information were discussed at the second meeting.
Evaluation of the workshops indicated that growers had gained new knowledge and had learnt specific new approaches, skills and techniques that they will utilise in their future irrigation management strategies. Future workshops could be improved by attracting more growers to the second day and by completing the Irrigation Recording Sheet on the day to provide better benchmarks.