VIT407 Integrated Vineyard Management (8)

This subject builds on concepts and key aspects acquired in earlier viticulture-related subjects. Students will focus on key areas that should be considered in managing a vineyard, including vineyard establishment, training, trellising, pruning, canopy management, irrigation, fertilisation, and pest and disease management. In addition, students will explore the principles of managing cover crops and weeds, and techniques for mitigating extreme environmental conditions. Students will also investigate the key concepts related to the management of organic and biodynamic vineyards, and the incorporation of precision viticulture for mitigating vineyard variability.

Availability

Year-long Period 1 (31)
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: VIT407. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Not available to students who have successfully completed VIT405

Assumed Knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to VIT211, VIT212 or VIT411 Viticultural Science and PSC215 or PSC416 Plant Physiology

Subject Relationships

VIT405 replaced by VIT407

Incompatible Subjects

VIT405

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to evaluate sites and grapevine planting stock as appropriate for establishing a sustainable vineyard;
  • be able to compare and contrast the different types and underlying principles of trellises and training systems, pruning techniques, and practices of canopy management;
  • be able to develop vineyard irrigation and fertilisation strategies particularly in relation to the soil properties, and site and environmental characteristics;
  • be able to analyse the role of vineyard management on vine health, and develop an integrated pest and disease management program in vineyards;
  • be able to implement management inputs in relation to cover crops, weeds, frost, heat waves, bushfires, wildlife, and the harvesting of grapes, especially with regard to factors affecting grape quality;
  • be able to discuss the principles and vineyard management techniques as relevant to organic, biodynamic and precision viticulture; and
  • be able to interpret the scientific literature related to vineyard management.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Propagation of grapevines and selection of planting material;
  • Vineyard site selection;
  • Vineyard establishment and redevelopment;
  • Planting and training of young vines;
  • Trellising of grapevines;
  • Pruning;
  • Canopy management;
  • Vineyard irrigation;
  • Fertilisation and nutrient management;
  • Pest and disease management;
  • Managing cover crops, weeds, frost, heatwaves, bushfires, wildlife, and the harvesting of grapes; and
  • Organic, biodynamic, and precision viticulture.

Workplace Learning

This subject contains a 1 days Compulsory Workplace Learning component.

Students will gather knowledge about the soil, variety, rootstock, clone, climate, topography, and management inputs as relevant to a chosen vineyard block. Students will be required to critically assess and evaluate the appropriateness of the management inputs in relation to the attributes of the vineyard, and match the usual or planned grapevine training, trellising, pruning and canopy management inputs with the characteristics of the vineyard and the grape production goals.

Special Resources

Students must be able to access a vineyard, preferably commercial, to complete some of the assessments in this subject.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: June 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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