Northern Cape Table Grapes

Karsten trails Klein Pella Northern Cape 2014

The Karsten group operates vineyards in Klein Pella, known for its harsh agricultural conditions. Therefore we deemed it an ideal testing ground for AquaBoostAG. A 5-hectare block, divided into three sections (601, 602, and 603) was provided for the trial. The blocks had uniform sandy soil, high water requirements, and struggling 2-year-old trellised table grapes.

The objective was to enhance stem diameter, decrease time to maturation while addressing challenges posed by sand soil and temperatures exceeding 40°C.

Sampling, measurement, watering, and nutrition protocols were managed by a professional Karsten team. An automatic watering system, activated by soil moisture levels, was utilized. Initial data suggests that water remained in the active root zone for longer durations. Due to extreme temperatures and ambitious farming goals, some AquaBoostAG blocks received additional water, as vegetative growth was notably accelerated.

Below are the results provided without change by Willem van Aarde (Senior Farm Manager).

AquaBoostAG trial data

Stem diameters was measured with a calliper directly below the irrigation pipe. All sections were measured from the side of the Prime orchards.

Spad readings were taken by measuring 10 leafs per section. The fourth leaf from the growing tip were measured every time.

Results:

Group	Ave Dim	Variation
Control	15.39	1
3L/Ha	18.17	1.181
5L/Ha	19.22	1.249

Orchard 601: AquaBoost 3L/ha every 6 weeks

Row	Section	Spad	Vine 1	Vine 2	Vine 3	Vine 4	Vine 5	Vine 6	Average
5	3	28.6	19	16	15	15	19	16	16.67
10	8	25.3	19	22	21	22	20	15	19.83
15	13	25.7	17	17	21	20	17	16	18.00

Average Spad: 26.53
Total average trunk diameter (mm): 18.17

Orchard 602: Control

Row	Section	Spad	Vine 1	Vine 2	Vine 3	Vine 4	Vine 5	Vine 6	Average
5	3	27.5	15	13	14	14	15	15	14.33
10	8	23.3	17	15	15	15	20	14	16.00
15	13	24.9	14	16	17	18	16	14	15.83

Average Spad: 25.23
Total average trunk diameter (mm): 15.39

Orchard 603: AquaBoost 5L/ha every 6 weeks

Row	Section	Spad	Vine 1	Vine 2	Vine 3	Vine 4	Vine 5	Vine 6	Average
5	3	27.9	19	18	21	22	20	21	20.17
10	8	27.8	19	18	17	17	20	15	17.67
15	13	27.4	24	19	20	20	18	18	19.83

Average Spad: 27.70
Total average trunk diameter: 19.22

Orchard 603 also received Fulvic acids later in the season.

Picture 1: Shows a visible difference in canopy density

Picture 2: Shows a visible difference in canopy density

Aquaboost Trail – Initial Data Sets (Start Growing Season/Young Vine)

Block 601 - Treated

Block 602 - Control

Block 603 – Treated

Block 605 – Control

Irrigation period week 30 onwards/Besproeiing van week 30 tot nou.

(Behandel) Blok 601 – 652mm
(Kontrole) Blok 602 – 606mm
(Behandel) Blok 603 – 564mm – 7 Besproeiings
(Kontrole) Blok 605 – 591mm – 9 besproeiings (heel ander grond tipe)

Block 601 slopes towards 602. Soil analysis showed that block 603 and 605 had more clay.

Soil analysis:

601, 603 – 5% Clay; 605 <3%
605 lower Ca
601 Fe 30mg/kg

Ave = 603.25mm Applied 3L and 5L

Behandel		Kontrole
Mean	608	Mean	598.5
Standard Error	44	Standard Error	7.5
Median	608	Median	598.5
Mode	#N/A	Mode	#N/A
Std. Deviation	62.2254	Std. Deviation	10.60660172
Variance	3872	Variance	112.5
Kurtosis	#DIV/0!	Kurtosis	#DIV/0!
Skewness	#DIV/0!	Skewness	#DIV/0!
Range	88	Range	15
Minimum	564	Minimum	591
Maximum	652	Maximum	606
Sum	1216	Sum	1197
Count	2	Count	2

Savings

After the growth season irrigation, a 35% reduction in water and irrigation system usage was noted. This had large cost saving and maintenance advantages.

There was a 15% electricity reduction (all water is pumped for the Orange River at an upward elevation).

Bemlab soil sample analysis

Grondontledingsverslag

Datum ontvang: 17/03/2014

Datum onileed: 20/03/2014

Boord	Lab.	Diepte	Grond	pH	Weerst.	H*	Klip	P Bray II	K	Na	K	Ca	Mg	Cu	Zn	Mn	B	Fe	C %
No.	No.	(cm)	Type	(KCl)	Ohms	cmol/kg	(Vol %)	mg/kg	mg/kg	cmol	cmol	cmol	cmol	mg/kg	mg/kg	mg/kg	mg/kg	mg/kg	mg/kg
Blok 601	7550	30	Sand	7.4	3040	-	16	28	47	0.12	0.12	6 65	1.26	1.30	12.4	39.3	0.24	29.13	0.24
Blok 603	7551	30	Sand	7.4	3250	-	15	27	61	009	0.16	6.83	1.32	1.51	190	42.0	0.35	17.58	0.20
Blok 605	7552	30	Sand	6.5	3410	-	14	103	49	0.09	0.13	5.57	1.33	1.27	18.8	37.9	0.32	15.98	0.26
Metodes	-	-	-	3108	3106	3109	-	3117	-	3113	3113	3113	3113	3115	3115	3115	3114	-	3107

Indien pH > 7.0 is word die Olsen metode(3H8) virdie bepaiing van P gebruik.

Verwys na BemLab werkinstruksies.

Basis Versadiging

Board	Lab.	Na	K	Ca	Mg	T-Waarde
No.	No.	%	%	%	%	Cmol/kg
Blok 601	7550	1.42	1.48	81.64	15.46	8.15
Blok 603	7551	1.08	1.87	81.38	15.67	8.40
Blok 605	7552	1.24	1.77	78.25	18.74	7.11

Meganiese ontleding

Boord No.	Lab. No.	Klei %	iSlik %	Fyn Sand %	Medium Sand %	Grow we Sand %	Klip %	Klassifikasie	Watt 10 kPa %	jrhouven 100 kPa	mo& mm/m
Blok 601 Blok 603 Blok 605	7550 7551 7552	4.8 4.8 2.8	2 I 2 2	59.3 59.4 19.6	29.3 29.4 30	4.6 4.44 45.6	16.0 15.4 14.5	Sa Sa Sa	16.92 17.01 13.74	6.77 6.80 7.97	101.5 102.2 57 7

Discussion

The 3L and 5L AquaBoostAG applications showed an 18% and 25% increase respectively in average shoot diameter of the young vines. Water usage was reduced by more than 35% with a 15% plus saving in electricity during the winter months.

Treated vines matured quicker, had a significantly improved root system and improved canopy. These factors result in improved drought and heat resistance.