Page 60 - Grapevine NovDec 2020

Around The Vineyard

may receive too much or too little,” Keller said. Distinguished Professor of Viticulture “Plants are
By using remote sensors on drones or airplanes, also very selective about what they take from the
and other technologies, Keller’s team hopes to soil,” Keller said.
identify hitherto hard-to-detect nutrient surpluses
or deficiencies in a timely manner, so that growers Conventional methods are still important tools
can make more nimble management decisions. for the grower and industry, and this new research
“Right now, leaf analysis can take up to a couple of seeks to supplement rather than replace some of
weeks,” he said. “By the time the grower gets the these more standard practices. The more resources
results, it is often too late to correct any inadequa- and data growers have, the more efficient and pro-
cies in that particular plant or part of the vineyard.” ductive their vineyards become. That benefits more
Soil sampling can be than just growers.
even more problem-
atic. Soil in one block “This kind of approach could go a long way in
of a vineyard can helping the environment, too, by reducing the
vary tremendously amount of fertilizers being used, and by applying
across the block and them at the right time in the right place” Keller
can be very different said.
nutrient-wise from
another. Consumers may benefit, too. In addition to the
potential cost savings passed down in wine sales,
Markus Keller, consumers could also see an improvement to the
Washington State quality of their wines.
University Chateau
Ste. Michelle “Sometimes when you open a Syrah, there can be

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