Learn the key steps of high-quality cultivation techniques for summer black grapes in northern Xinjiang
Lei Tianxiang and others
Sichuan Provincial Regional Innovation Cooperation Project (2021YFQ0015) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Agricultural Key Core Technology Research Project (NYHXGG, 2023AA602).
Summer, also known as Black Summer, Summerblack Seedless, originated in Japan, is a European and American hybrid grape variety bred by the cross between Kyoho and Seedless White. The fruit has a strong strawberry flavor, the natural single grain weight is 3~4 g, the single grain weight is 10~12 g after expansion treatment, the single spike weight is 800~1 000 g, and the soluble solid content is 18%~21%, which is quite popular with consumers.
Xinjiang is located in the northern region of the buried soil and cold-proof grape production area, which belongs to a typical temperate continental arid climate, rich in light and heat resources, large temperature difference between day and night, suitable for grape planting, and has a long history of cultivation. Relying on the superior natural resources, the 81st Regiment of the Fifth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has built a 1 333.33 hm2 summer black grape planting base, through the promotion and application of high-quality and efficient cultivation technologies with the transformation of the "factory" shaped frame, the regulation and control of water and fertilizer system, the fine management of flowers and fruits, the green prevention and control of diseases and pests, and mechanization as the core, the grape planting efficiency has been significantly improved, and the income of employees has been greatly improved, which has greatly promoted the local economic and social development.
1. Basic information of the test site
1.1 Geolocation
The test site is located in the summer black grape production base of the 81st Regiment of the Fifth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which is located at 82°24′49"~82°38′30" east longitude and 44°42′17"~44°48′52" north latitude. 1.2 Climatic conditions: The annual average temperature in this region is 6.7 °C, the maximum temperature in summer is 41 °C, the lowest temperature in winter is -35 °C, the average annual active accumulated temperature of ≥ 10 °C in the past five years is 4 179 °C, the average annual sunshine hours are 2 839 h, and the average frost-free period is 185 days.
1.3 Soil conditions
At the end of 2017, one experimental demonstration plot with an area of 1 hm2 was selected in each of the two summer black grape companies, and the quality and comprehensive economic benefits of the high-quality and efficient production technology of summer black grapes were followed up and investigated, and the soil conditions of the two experimental plots are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Soil nutrients in the experimental demonstration plots in 2017
1.4 Irrigation conditions
The experimental plots were all under pressure drip irrigation, and one drip irrigation belt was laid along both sides at a distance of 20 and 40 cm from the base of the grape vines.
1.5 Test Materials
5-year-old summer black grapes.
2 rack options
Select the "Factory" zigzag frame type. The shed surface is 2.0 m away from the ground, two longitudinal wires are fixed on each side along the row on the shed surface skeleton, the first cold-drawn wire is 0.2 m away from the column, and the second plastic steel wire is 0.4 m away from the column, and the main wire is fixed with an iron wire and a horseshoe buckle on each column.
3 Cultivation techniques
3.1 Unearthed and put on the shelf
3.1.1 Excavation
The excavation began to be excavated at an average temperature of more than 10 °C for 7 consecutive days, and the excavation was carried out in two times, generally in early April, most of the covering soil was removed by using excavation machinery (Fig. 1-A, B), and in mid-April, the remaining soil was manually removed, and the self-made tarpaulin winding machine (Fig. 1-C) was used to extract and organize the tarpaulin to complete the grape excavation. The grapes must be harvested in conjunction with the weather conditions to prevent the cold of the spring.
Fig. 1 The key machinery for the whole process of mechanization of summer black grapes in northern Xinjiang
Note: A. Rear intermittent pier opener;B. Two-way excavation ditch cleaning shovel;C. Tarpaulin wrapping machine;D. Pruning and topping machine; Rear mechanical drive double cutting knife pruner;F. Grape ditcher;G. Automatic Fertilizer Applicator;H. Shoot Crusher;I. Bury machine.
3.1.2 Listing
After unearthing, take advantage of the soft morning frame of the branches, and tie the branches and vines evenly and reasonably on the shelf surface in accordance with the requirements of the "factory" zigzag shelf, and the branches should be tied on the shelf in the direction and slope of the previous year in the binding process, and the spacing of the main vines is consistent with the plant spacing, and the branches and vines do not cross each other. Tie vines to adjust the angle of the vines, so that the vines grow horizontally, straighten the vines, and eliminate large bends and overlaps.
3.1.3 Clearing Garden
After putting it on the shelf, level the ground in time, clear the grafting interface, and lay the drip irrigation belt with the tree as the center. At the same time, when the temperature before the grape bud is above 13 °C, the whole garden is sanitized with broad-spectrum fungicides such as stone sulfur compound.
3.2 Leaf curtain shaping (vegetative growth management)
3.2.1 Matchmaking
Erase the new shoots below 1.5 m perpendicular to the ground in time, and leave a ventilation zone to keep ventilation and light. Leave 1~2 full buds in the fruiting band according to about 15 cm, erase the deformed buds, double buds, and three buds, and ensure that the new shoots are distributed in the shape of fish bones as much as possible. Wipe buds follow the principle of "go to the weak and stay strong".
3.2.2 Dingzhi
After the inflorescence appears, select the new shoots with inflorescence in the middle and strong, remove the over-dense and too weak new shoots, and generally leave 8~10 new shoots per square meter of shelf surface. Tie the shoots in time according to the direction of the new shoots and the space on the shelf to ensure the steady growth of the new shoots and balance the nutrition.
3.2.3 Topping
The first flowers begin to pluck the tops of the new shoots. The first inflorescence leaves 4~5 leaves upwards for heavy topping, and 8~10 leaves for extended branches to top, and weak trees and weak branches can delay topping. Topping is done after the secondary shoots below the fruit spike, 1 leaf is left above the ear for topping, and 2~3 leaves are left at the top of the secondary tip for repeated topping. The top can be treated repeatedly with a new shoot processing machine (Fig. 1-D, E) to ensure ventilation and light transmission.
3.3 Fine management of flowers and fruits
3.3.1 Spike
According to the principle of "one branch and one panicle, weak branches do not leave ears", the discrepancies on the fruit spikes and the first 2~3 layers of secondary spikes were pinched, the first layer of secondary spikes was 5~6 cm away from the fruit stalk, the medium spike retained the spike length of 8~10 cm, and the large spike retained the spike length of 10~12 cm.
3.3.2 Denuclearization
The deseeding treatment was carried out in 2 phases, mainly to achieve the goals of fruit preservation, denuclearization and fruit expansion. The first treatment: In the full flowering period (i.e., the 7~10th day of flowering, the number of flowering spikes in the whole panicle accounts for more than 90% of the whole garden), use 20 mL of summer black special treatment A agent (produced by Zhangjiagang Shenyuan Grape Technology Co., Ltd.) mixed with water 16 kg or soak the flower spike with 10 mg/L GA 3+0.5 mg/L CPPU aqueous solution for dipping the ear, and then flick the fruit stem with your fingers to shake off the excess medicinal solution. The second treatment: The second treatment was carried out after 10~15 days after the first treatment, generally before 12:00 and after 18:00, 30 mL of Xia Hei special treatment B agent (produced by Zhangjiagang Shenyuan Grape Technology Co., Ltd.) was mixed with water 30 kg or 10 mg/L GA 3 +1 mg/L CPPU for dipping the ear, and then flicking the fruit stalk with your fingers to shake off the excess medicinal solution.
3.3.3 Fruit thinning
After agent A treatment, the small fruits, diseased fruits and internal spikelets are removed in time, and 1/4~1/3 small secondary spikes are uniformly cut off in a spiral or straight line along the fruit spike, and 80~110 grains are retained per spike to ensure that the fruit size and space are uniform, which is convenient for later management, realizes the goal of "one cut and packing", and improves the commercial fruit rate.
3.4 Water and fertilizer system regulation
Water and fertilizer management is the key link to coordinate nutrient transformation, regulate tree growth, and achieve high quality and high yield. Based on the water-saving irrigation technology of integrated water and fertilizer, and according to the nutrient demand of crops at different growth stages, the water and fertilizer system regulation technology based on organic fertilizer, formula fertilizer as the core, and foliar fertilizer as the supplement was gradually explored (Table 2).
Table 2 Water and fertilizer dosage of 667 m2 for summer black grapes
Note: From 2017 to 2020, the pure N, P, and K content fertilization was referred to the above table, and in 2021, Hubei Greenkai Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. was used to develop formula fertilizer, and the formula A fertilizer N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O was 20:20:20 + TE (trace elements), the formula B fertilizer N:P 2 O 5:K 2 O was 17:9:34 + TE (trace elements), and the formula C fertilizer N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O:CaO:MgO was 13:3:15:8:2 + TE (trace elements).
3.5 Green prevention and control of pests and diseases
The diseases that occurred in the summer black grape production base mainly included powdery mildew, downy mildew, cob brown blight, etc., and the insect pests mainly included mites, green blind bugs, white star flower beetle, etc., and the pest control measures in the critical period of summer black grapes were formulated according to the occurrence law of pests and diseases (Table 3).
Table 3 Pest control measures during the critical period of summer black grapes in northern Xinjiang
3.6 Post-harvest management
3.6.1 Fruit off the shelves
In order to reduce the nutrient consumption of the tree and speed up the maturity of branches, it is recommended to remove all garbage fruits, green fruits, diseased fruits, secondary fruits and other fruits from the garden before October 15.
3.6.2 Fertilization and winter irrigation
According to the amount of water and fertilizer used during the defoliation to dormancy period (Table 2), a ditching fertilizer applicator (Fig. 1-F, G) was used to apply sufficient basal fertilizer to a depth of not less than 40 cm. 667 m2 drip water 50 m3, irrigate evenly, fill enough, and fill thoroughly.
3.6.3 Prune the garden
All below the ventilation zone were pruned, and the two buds were mainly pruned above the ventilation belt, and the three buds were pruned not higher than 10%, and the spacing between the mother branches was 10~15 cm. The shoots were crushed with a shoot crusher (Figure 1-H) and returned to the field, and the whole garden was sanitized with 5 Baumé stone sulfur mixture.
3.6.4 Buried soil to prevent cold
According to the direction of the tree, the tree should be manually braided, and the soil should be buried with a burying machine (Fig. 1-I), and the thickness of the buried soil should be more than 35 cm, and the second cold protection should be done in time.
4. The whole process is mechanized
Grape management has a high degree of refinement, high labor intensity, and many labors, and improving the degree of mechanization is an important means to increase the efficiency of grape planting. Through years of exploration, a mechanized management model that is matched by the introduction of machinery and independent improvement of machinery has been gradually formed, and the mechanization of high-intensity labor links such as excavation, summer shearing, pesticide application, fertilization, and soil burial has been realized (Figure 1). The application of key mechanization technologies reduces the labor intensity and labor costs of the XPCC's employees, which helps to shift the labor costs to fine management links such as fine management of flowers and fruits, leaf curtain shaping, etc., and promotes the standardized management of the XPCC's grape industry. At the same time, the application of key mechanization technologies has compressed the operation time of key links, enhanced the ability to prevent and resolve risks, and significantly improved the efficiency of grape production and the happiness index of employees. According to the survey, the per capita managed grape area of the base is more than 1.33 hm2.
5. Comparative analysis of economic benefits
Through the comparative analysis of 667 m2 yield, average selling price, 667 m2 output value, 667 m2 cost, and 667 m2 income of the demonstration plots in the fixed-point collection test plots for five consecutive years, it was found that the economic benefits of the experimental plots managed by high-quality and efficient cultivation technology were significantly better than those managed by conventional management (Table 4). At the same time, the grape ripening period is consistent, 5~7 days earlier than the conventional management, and the "one-cut packing" ratio is more than 85%, which is deeply loved by mainland merchants, and the selling price is greatly increased, the selling price is about 2 times that of the control plot, and it has been exported to Southeast Asian countries for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019.
Table 4 Economic benefits of high-quality and efficient cultivation of summer black grapes in northern Xinjiang from 2018 to 2022
6 Discussion
Large-scale grape production is a significant feature of the XPCC's grape production, and the management area of each employee is maintained at 0.87~1.00 hm2. Due to the large management area of a single employee, the lack of labor, and the high labor cost, the management is extensive, the grape commodity rate is low, and the economic efficiency is poor, and the refined management has become the most obvious shortcoming of the XPCC's grape production. In view of the above problems, the integration and promotion of high-quality and efficient cultivation technology with the transformation of the "factory" zigzag frame, the regulation and control of water and fertilizer system, the fine management of flowers and fruits, the green prevention and control of diseases and pests, and mechanization as the core, have achieved the management goals of bumper yield, concentrated maturity, and "one cut and packing", and the economic benefits have been significantly improved. At the same time, the labor cost of fine management such as topping, flower thinning, fruit trimming, and picking is still high, and mechanization has not been realized.