Yield and Quality of `Banaty' Grapes in Response to Spraying Iron and Zinc

Abstract

During 1995 and 1996, yield and quality of `Banaty' grapes in response to spraying chelated iron and zinc singly or in combination each at 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.3% was investigated. Each concentration was applied once, twice, three, four, or five times. Results showed that there was a gradual increase in berry set, cluster number, yield, cluster weight, berry weight, total soluble solid sugars, and total anthocyanins with rising concentrations and number of sprays of each fertilizer. Total acidity tended to reduce with such treatment. Combined spray of both fertilizers, particularly at 0.1% four times, gave satisfactory improvement in both quantity and quality of grapes. Spraying at concentrations higher than 0.1% or spraying more than four times failed to show any measurable effect on all of the studied traits. The best results with regard to yield and quality of `Banaty' grapes were obtained on vines that received four sprays of iron and zinc each at 0.1% in chelated form.