Comprehensive study on the nutrient concentration and uptake in various organs of cabernet sauvignon across all growth stages

Abstract

The cultivation of wine grapes in the Helan Mountain region of Ningxia faces challenges related to unbalanced and unscientific fertilization practices, resulting in nutrient deficiencies, low fertilizer efficiency, and inconsistent grape quality and yield. This study aims to provide precise nutritional diagnostics for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to facilitate standardized fertilization management in the region. Field experiments were conducted on seven-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, employing micro-sampling techniques alongside laboratory analyses. The investigation focused on the patterns of dry matter accumulation and the dynamic changes in mineral nutrient elements throughout the entire growth cycle. Results indicate that dry matter accumulation exhibited a dual “S” pattern over the growth period, with cumulative dry matter displaying an “M” shaped variation across developmental stages: veraison, bulking, flowering, fruit setting, maturity, leaf unfolding, and nutrient retranslocation, accounting for 31.85 %, 23.82 %, 16.80 %, 14.00 %, 8.56 %, 2.69 %, and 2.28 % of total accumulation, respectively. Throughout the growth cycle, total nutrient uptake was quantified as follows: nitrogen (167.86 kg ha⁻¹), phosphorus (47.41 kg ha⁻¹), potassium (211.06 kg ha⁻¹), calcium (15.52 kg ha⁻¹), magnesium (1.45 kg ha⁻¹), iron (2.87 kg ha⁻¹), manganese (0.76 kg ha⁻¹), copper (0.20 kg ha⁻¹), zinc (0.60 kg ha⁻¹), and boron (0.64 kg ha⁻¹). The optimal periods for nutrient uptake varied, with nitrogen and boron peaking during flowering, while phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium demonstrated high efficiency during the flowering and berry bulking stages. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between soil physicochemical properties and nutrient uptake in different organs. Nitrogen uptake in leaves during the budding and flowering stage, and in roots and berries during the berry swelling stage, showed strong correlations with soil available nitrogen, total nitrogen, organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium. Phosphorus uptake was positively correlated with soil nutrients in secondary lateral branches and berries during berry swelling stage, and in roots and secondary lateral branches during the maturity stage. This study establishes a robust nutritional diagnostic framework and provides evidence-based fertilization recommendations, enhancing nutrient management efficiency and grape quality in Ningxia's wine grape production. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for precise fertilization practices, contributing to improved agricultural outcomes in the region.