PLANTING METHODS AFFECT EARLY GROWTH AND ROOT DISTRIBUTION OF MUSCADINE VINES

Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) vineyards can be difficult to es tablish due to poor vine growth or survival during the first year afte r planting. Effects of the planting hole (five types), root manipulati on (three levels), and peat amendment (0% and 50%) on first-year growt h were studied at two sites with different soil types: a sandy loam (w ell-drained) and a silty loam (moderately well-drained). The planting hole had the major effect at both sites; large holes (25 liters) shove led with straight or angled sides resulted in more shoot and root dry weight and greater total root length than auger holes (21 liters) or s mall shovel holes (10 liters). Vine response to planting in a subsoil slot 0.5 m deep x 6 m long was similar to that in large holes in sandy soil and small holes in heavier soil. Root manipulation treatments ha d little effect on vine establishment. Root pruning at planting, with or without root separation, did not increase vine dry weight relative to an undisturbed root ball in either soil type, but total root length was increased by root pruning in the heavier silty loam soil. Peat am endment increased total root length in the sandy soil but not in the s ilty loam soil.