Influence of Soil Physical Properties on Grapevine Yield and Maturity Components in an Ultic Palexeralf Soils, Central-Southern, Chile

Abstract

The effects of soil physical properties on yield components, grape quality and grapevine yield cv. Cabernet Sauvignon in Ultic Palexeralf soils located in Central Southern Chile were assessed. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments of soil texture: clayey, sandy clay and clayey loam. The higher yield was obtained in the sandy clay and clayey loam soils. The increase of bulk density, penetration resistance and clay content decreased the number of clusters per vine, number of berries per cluster and grapevine yield. Soil texture had not effects on the yield of shoots, berry diameter and total acidity. However, soluble solids were higher in the clayey soil. Shoot orientation only had positive effects on the cluster weight, number of berries per cluster, and grapevine yield, being higher in the upward shoots. This research remarked the importance of soil physical properties on the selection of sites with viticultural aptitude.