Determining the Impacts of Dormant Pruning Methods and Nitrogen Fertilization on Pinot Noir Bud Fruitfulness and Yield

This project is designed to provide scientifically tested information to growers about the impacts of two commercial management practices that can influence vineyard productivity: dormant pruning and nitrogen (N) fertilization. The Oregon industry uses primarily cane pruning for Pinot Noir, as they believe spur pruning will result in low yields (due to low bud fruitfulness) and reduce wine quality. Objective 1 of this study tests this question in a commercial vineyard, and we have been able to show with year 1 data that spur-pruned vines have fruitful basal buds, and that fruit composition and vine growth are equitable to that of cane-pruned vines. Although cluster size is smaller in spur-pruned vines, it was not enough to cause differences in whole vine yield. Results from our N-fertilization trial show little effect on bud and actual fruitfulness and yield after two seasons. Both experiments highlight the impact of vine vigor on bud fruitfulness, with greater fruitfulness observed with higher cane weights in the nitrogen trial and higher internode diameters in both pruning and fertilization trials. Additional years of this research will help determine the impacts of these management methods on yield potential over different seasons and vineyards to help growers adopt new pruning practices and/or enhance their vineyard N-management.