Soils Analysis

Summary: Client Estate Vineyard Soil Analysis
March 15,2001

In general, this property has a complex mixture of soil types, many of which show strong layering. Because of this layering, most would benefit from slip plowing in three directions to the depths noted below. At least one site clearly requires drainage, while several others would likely benefit from having drains installed. As anticipated, the soils range from being high in magnesium to extremely high in magnesium. As a result, the choice of appropriate rootstocks is limited to just a few 101-14, 44-53, true SO4 (not 5C) and 110. For wine quality reasons 110 is only recommended where white grape varieties are to be grown. For red grape varieties the other three rootstocks are suggested as detailed below.

The site by site details are as follows:

Site 1: suggest broadcasting 20 tons per acre of sugar beet lime and slip plow in three directidns to a depth of five feet. For the benefit of high rainfall years, suggest insta!ling drains at a depth of five and a half to six feet. The preferred rootstock for the site is likely 101-14, with SO4 as a possible option.
Site 2 and 4: suggest broadcasting 15 tons per acre of sugar beet lime then slip plow to a depth of five feet in three directions. 101 – 14 rootstock appears to be best suited for this site.
Site 3: this deep silty clay loam does not require slip plowing, though ripping is suggested. Due to the soil texture and probable wetness in high-rainfall years, 101-14 rootstock seems logical here.
Site 5 and 8: suggest 10 tons per acre of sugar beet lime and 20 tons per acre of gypsum slip plowed to a depth of five feet, and drains installed to depth of five and a half to six feet. Duc to the very high
magnesium content of this soil, 44-53 rootstock Is suggested and it is likely best to only grow white grape here.
Site 6: suggest slip plowing to a depth of four feet, and it is vital to install drainage here at a depth of four and a half to five feet due to the salt content of the subsoil. It would bc best to leach the salt for a year or more prior to planting, though this process could be speeded up with sprinklers during summer time. Due to the presence of salt and high clay content of the site, 101-14 rootstock is suggested.
Site 7: where the slope permits, 15 tons of line and 20 tons of gypsum per acre slip plowed to a depth of four feet is suggested, with drains at a depth of four and a half to five feet, using 101-14 rootstock. As in the cases of sites 5 and 8, the very high magnesium means that white grape varieties might be best suited here,
Site 9: suggest 25 tons per acre of sugar beet lime slip plowed to a depth of five feet with 101-14 or SO4 rootstock. One option here is to use 110 rootstock, but only with white grape varieties, in which case 15 tons per acre of lime should be adequate.
Site 10: with only a foot or so of soil over sandstone, and considering the central location, this area seems best suited for water tanks and /or a shop and/or a work area, but not for grape vines.
Site 11: slip plowing is not needed here, though ripping is suggested, with 101-14 or SO4 rootsfock.
Sites 12,13, 1S, 16: have limited soil depth over cobbles or fractured sandstone, suggest 10 tons per acre of sugar beet lime slip plowed to a depth of three feet, Suggest 44-3 rootstock for red grapes, though these shallow soils may be equally suited to 110 rootstock with white grapes.
Site 14: suggcst slip plowing to a depth of five feet to break up the strong layering (similar to sites 5 and 8, without the compaction), suggest 101-14, or possibly true SO4 rootstock for red grapes.
Site 17: suggest slip plowing to a depth of three feet, install drains to three and a half to four feet and use 101-14 rootstock due to the high clay content of the subsoil.

In addition, the following fertilization is suggested for all sites …

Boron (Bo): low in all samples, suggest treating with Solubor per the attached UC recommendation by Pete Christensen. Suggest starting with higher rate initially, then shift to lower rates over time as part of an ongoing maintenance program.
Potassium (K), phosphorus (P): deficient in all samples, Suggest augering a hole two feet deep, two feet from the base of each vine, under or near a drip emitter. Pour one pound per vine of triple super phosphate in the bottom of each hole, then six to eight pounds of sulfate of potash on top of the phosphorus. This treatment should be adequate for five to seven years, possibly much longer depending on rootstock, crop load, vine observation, result of petiole analysis and overall wine quality. Any future treatment can be done with a hand tool similar to a forester’s planting dibble with lower rates of material if done in the same location as the initial treatment (so it is best to keep track of the initial placement).
Nitrate (N03-N), ammonia (NH3-N), organic matter (OM %): nitrate is deficient in all samples, suggest four to five ounces of per vine of calcium nitrate irrigated into the root zone at planting time.
Suggest repeating this treatment midsummer for weak vines onIy, and again every spring around budbreak for-weak individual vines only. Ammonia and organic matter are on the low side of normal, which means
that excessive vigor should not be a problem long-term. For many of these sites, low vigor will likely be more common, which is advantageous when trying to produce late-ripening varieties such as cabernet in this moderately cool location, Relatively close in-row vine spacing and managing for low-vigor will very likely produce higher quality wine than could be achieved with a wider spacing associated with higher vigor based on liberal irrigation and application of higher rates of nitrogen.
Zinc: deficient in all samples, suggest treatment per attached article on micronutrient foliar sprays. Note that young vines benefit from monthly sprays to the new growth during the summer, as zinc does not
translocate readily in grape vines (per tabie 1,based on Pete Christensen’s work). From the first crop year onward, one application at the start of bloom is normally sufficient, provided that the material used has a high enough zinc content (e.g.., zinc sulfate, 52 percent zinc).
Copper (Cu): adequate in a few samples, deficient in others, suggest including copper in your annual prebloom foliar program, Copper should not be used after crop set, as copper in the wine causes a haze which
winemakers must remove.
A11 other nutrients appear to be within satisfactory ranges for quality wine grape production. From the first crop year onward, annual bloom petiole analysis should be done on a block by block basis in order to
assess ongoing fertilization needs, and to avoid potentially costly problems that can result From having insufficient information regarding vine nutrients status. During our review we will discuss various options related to spacing, trellising and raw direction.
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MIKE PORTER VINEYARD CONSULTING, INC.

Soil Report for client March 15,2001

This report is a supplement to the Client Estate vineyard soil report. As is not too surprising, the two properties have some soil characteristics in common, Specifically, these soils are acidic to very acidic, low in boron, high to very high in magnesium, deficient in potassium, nitrate, phosphorus, zinc and copper.
For the hilltop (site A), 20 tons per acre of sugar beel lime slip plowed in three directions to a depth of four feet is suggested. For red grapes, 44-53 rootstock is suggested, or 110 for white grapes.
For the North facing slope (site B), no slip plowing is suggested due to the slope, and 101-14 rootstock seems the best suited for this high magnesium clay soil. White grape varieties may be the best option here.
For the flats west of the hill (site C), 10 tons per acre of sugar beet lime and 15 tons per acre of gypsum, slip plowed to a depth of four feet, then install drains to a depth of four and a half to five feet are suggested, with 44 — 53 rootstock for red grapes or 44 – 53 or 110 for white grapes.
For the flats north of the hill (site D), 15 tons per acre of sugar beet lime and 20 tons per acre of gypsum slip plowed to a depth of four feet and drains and a depth of four and a half to five feet are suggested, with 101-14 rootstock for this high magnesitltn clay soil, with red grapes being a better option here than on the North facing slope (site B).
For fertilization recommendations, see the Client Estate soil report regarding the appIication of boron. potash. phosohorous, zinc and conper. The same rates and methods of application are suggested.
During our review, we should discuss the various options in some detail, including: spacing, trellis system, row direction, water requirements and other pertinent details. Other than those listed above, all other nutrients appear to be within satisfactory ranges for wine grape production.

Original Soils Map Topo