Production assessment of vineyard planting density in the conditions of the Southern Steppe

Abstract

Goal. To study the effect of bush planting density on the technical and economic indicators of vineyard operation in the soil and climatic conditions of the Southern Steppe and to justify the feasibility of using small-sized equipment by economic entities — small wine producers. Methods. The field research method with statistical data analysis was applied. Results. It was established that an increase in planting density up to 4,000 bushes/ha compared to the standard (2,222 bushes/ha) increased the yield of vineyards by 26.8–32.5%, depending on the variety. In the case of using the technical variety Aromatnyi, the increase in yield was on average 2.5 t/ha, and the variety Zahrei — 4.0 t/ha. Vineyards with increased density required 63.1% more labor costs for workers, and 50.2% for drivers, as a result of which labor intensity per unit of production increased by 11.3–13.7%. Compared to the standard, the production cost increased by 31.3–41.1% per hectare of plantations, or by 0.4–10.4% per ton of grown crop. At the same time, the density of vineyards of 4,000 bushes/ha, compared to the standard, increased the cost of production from one hectare under plantings of the Aromatnyi variety by 40.8%, and the Zahrei variety — by 18.2%. Each hryvnia invested in the production of experimental technical varieties of grapes, at a planting density of 2,222 bushes/ha, provided UAH 1.69–2.37 of net profit. In vineyards with a planting density of 4,000 bushes/ha, the cost of working capital was slightly lower — UAH 1.68–2.03 of net profit. Conclusions. Planting density is an important parameter of trellis-row plantations, which significantly affects the technical and economic indicators of grape culture. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Southern Steppe, the cultivation of technical varieties of the new selection Aromatnyi and Zahrei at large enterprises provided a greater effect at a planting density of 2,222 bushes/ha, and small wine facilities — at a density of 4,000 bushes/ha.