Relationship between Soil Temperature and N Release in Organic and Conventionally Managed Vineyards

Soil temperature is a very easily measured parameter that influences nutrient availability in vineyards. We monitored soil temperature and plant-available nitrogen (N) in a study evaluating the potential of legumes as an interrow cover crop to supply N to Concord grape (Vitis labruscana Baily). Nitrogen sources used were hairy vetch (Vicia villosa subsp. villosa L.) and yellow sweet clover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam] as green manure sources and either blood meal (in a certified organic vineyard) or urea (in a conventional vineyard) as soluble sources. Plant-available N was measured both continuously using ion exchange membranes (PRS^TM) and point in time by soil sampling at regular intervals; both were analyzed for nitrate (NO₃) N and ammonium (NH₄) N, although negligible concentrations of NH₄-N were detected. PRS NO₃-N concentration varied by treatments because of differences in the chemical composition of the N source. Soil NO₃-N concentration reached a peak between 520 and 550 degree-days with no significant differences by treatment or site. These findings are similar to results from incubation and field mineralization studies of organic amendments and suggest that N availability from organic sources in vineyards can be predicted using a degree-day-type model.