Technical annual report 2000-01
Dept. of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources technical annual report; Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources technical and annual report; Reports; PublicationNT; Technical bulletin (Northern Territory. Dept. of Primary Industry and Fisheries) ; no. 295
2001-10
Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
Date:2001-10
English
Agriculture -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Northern Territory -- Periodicals
Dept. of Primary Industry and Fisheries
Darwin
Technical bulletin (Northern Territory. Dept. of Primary Industry and Fisheries) ; no. 295
0158-2763
Check within Publication or with content Publisher.
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/223369
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/687151
Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries 160 increase because it takes a few years before vines show a response to phosphorus fertiliser. Soil (Olsen) phosphorus results suggest that 20kg/ha/year appears to be sufficient at Ti Tree. Significant reductions in soil (Olsen) phosphorus were observed in the trial. This suggests that it was fixed in the soil. However, it is possible that part of this fixed phosphorus is available to the vine over a period of time. The trial will be continued for at least another two seasons. PROJECT: The Use of Dormancy Breaking Agents for Early Table Grape Production in the NT - Season 2000 Project Officers: G. Kenna, D. Salter, A. Nesbitt and D. King Location: Ti Tree/Territory Grapes Objective: Improve the productivity, quality and profitability of the table grape industry in the NT. Introduction: The development of the table grape industry in Central Australia is based on the production of an early maturing, high quality product to supply domestic markets. Table grape varieties grown in the Ti Tree/Pine Hill area, 200 km north of Alice Springs, begin to mature from the last week of October with the bulk of the harvest completed by Christmas. The amount of winter chill received by grapevines in this area through the winter months varies considerably from year to year. Often the number of chill hours is not adequate and can result in an erratic bud burst. This has implications for the management of the crop. The timing of the application of Gibberellic acid sprays can be difficult and a proportion of the crop may mature late. The application of the dormancy-breaking agent Dormex (hydrogen cyanamide) to vines is an essential management tool in Central Australia. This chemical is usually applied to grapevines at the maximum recommended rate of 5% v/v (2.5% active ingredient). The chemical is expensive; however the high returns from the early market fruit have ensured its viability to date. Past research has indicated that one of the factors determining the response of vines to the application of Dormex was how effectively it was applied. A thorough and even wetting of canes/spurs, and buds and the crown of the vine while minimising run-off is essential. The spray application rate required to achieve this is around 400 mL per vine (500 L/ha). Due to the cost of the chemical and the rates at which it is applied, industry has identified a need to investigate methods to improve productivity and spray efficacy. Work to investigate the efficacy of various Dormex applications in combination with surfactants commenced in Central Australia in 1995. DPIF, in cooperation with researchers from the University of California, established a number of trials at Territory Grapes, a property located on Pine Hill Station, approximately 190 km north of Alice Springs. Dormex Research Project 1999: Research work in 1999 involved the evaluation of the effectiveness of Dormex combined with various surfactants when applied at various rates compared with Dormex applied at the recommended rate of 5% v/v. The recommended application of Dormex at this rate also included the addition of a non ionic wetter. Treatments consisted of 5% Dormex+ .05% Agral (recommended standard treatment), 2% Dormex = 3% Chemwet 600, 1% Dormex + 3% Chemwet 600, 2% Dormex + 3% Pulse, 1% Dormex+ 3% Pulse, 2% Dormex with no surfactant and control (unsprayed).