791-040 Viticulture

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Agricultural Production Systems II.

Corequisites

Biology III.

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend the students' ability to:

• prepare management strategies to maximise the quality and yield of grapevines taking into account environmental and management influences;
• explain the commercial influences on vineyard establishment and operation;
• describe major weather differences and evaluate the suitability of cultivations for different purposes and locations;
• actively evaluate trends and developments in viticulture, with particular reference to technology, management and marketing aspects, and then to develop proposals from their evaluations.

The content includes: The distribution and structure of viticultural production throughout the world, the pattern and trend of Australia's viticulture industry, and its association with other areas of primary production. Grape grower and affiliated organisations. Vineyard site selection with regard to the nature of grape production, soil type, climatic and weather patterns, pest and disease problems. Vineyard establishment and design; selection of cultivars and rootstocks for wine, table and dried fruit; strategies for spacing, planting and training, and their interaction with trellis construction and design. Crop management through pruning, irrigation, frost control, soil management, and canopy management. Techniques for improving grape quality through canopy configuration and its influence on development and maturation. The assessment of fruit maturity and yield estimation. Comparative management strategies as seen through annual work programs for table grape, wine and dried fruit production.

Assessment

Two assignments (25% each); examination (50%).