A method for autonomous shoot pruning of grapes by planting in the valleys below a V-shaped rain shelter made of a corrugated roof.

Abstract

For wine grapes, pruning and shaping account for one-third of the total working time, and there are significant differences between peak and off-peak seasons, making it a challenge to secure peak labor. For table grapes (especially large-berry varieties), cluster formation and harvesting account for more than half of the total working time, requiring workers to keep their arms raised, resulting in poor work efficiency and the need to constantly look upwards. This invention provides a grape pruning method that improves work efficiency. [Solution] Multiple support posts are erected in the direction of the furrow, and the tops of each are connected with horizontal downpipes. A V-shaped corrugated roof rain cover is installed so that rainwater flows into it. A rain cover is created by connecting the ground side of the bottom of the corrugated roof to the horizontal downpipes at regular intervals with wires in the direction of the furrow. Seedlings are planted directly below the valleys of the V-shaped roof. The growing shoots are extended in a straight line in the direction of the furrow directly below the horizontal downpipes to become the main branches. When new shoots sprout from both sides, the grapes will try to grow upwards due to their nature and will hit the corrugated roof. However, if they try to grow further they will reach the nearest ridge, and thereafter they will be pruned autonomously along the ridge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a rainproof structure with overhead wires and a method for pruning new shoots thereby.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, the pruning methods for grapes have been divided into the hedge type and the horizontal trellis type, but both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so there has been an endless debate about which method to use, especially for winemaking.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to an excerpt and compilation from the Yamanashi Prefecture Agricultural Management Index (2010), in addition to the 172 hours related to bunch formation out of the total 351 hours of all operations for Shine Muscat grown in the horizontal trellis system, one has to continue working for nearly 60 hours for harvesting etc. not only with poor workability that causes pain in the arms, neck, shoulders, and waist, but also being shunned by female part-time workers because the face gets sunburned. For winemaking, bunch formation etc. are unnecessary, so excluding the above analysis, pruning and trimming account for one-third, and the difference between the busy and slack periods is large, and ensuring peak labor force is an issue. Furthermore, in the hedge type used for winemaking, due to the passageway, 30% of the sunlight that reaches the land is wasted, and for black grapes, extra work of cutting the leaves near the fruit bunch has to be done to deepen the coloring. On the other hand, in the horizontal trellis type, since the new shoots are attracted horizontally against the habit of grapes, lateral buds keep germinating one after another, wasting nutrients, and creating extra work such as bud scraping, pinching, or attraction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Multiple support posts are erected in the direction of the furrow, and the tops of each are connected with horizontal downspouts. A corrugated roof rain shelter is installed in a V shape so that rainwater flows into it. The ground side of the bottom of the corrugated roof is connected to the horizontal downspouts at regular intervals in the direction of the furrow with overhead wires. Seedlings are planted directly beneath the bottom of the V-shaped rain shelter, and the growing shoots are extended in a straight line in the direction of the furrow directly below the rain shelter to become the main branch, from which new shoots are allowed to grow on both sides. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] This invention has the effect of significantly reducing working time in pruning and shaping, which accounts for 42 hours of the aforementioned work breakdown, by eliminating the need to fix each branch with tape, etc., and also eliminating the need to remove tape from each branch during winter pruning, as it only requires cutting the branch at the base and pulling it out. Unlike the trellis system (used for brewing), it allows for almost all sunlight to be utilized, and since the fruit clusters emerge below the surface of the leaves, the work of pruning surrounding leaves is eliminated. Compared to the flat trellis system, if the length of new shoots is 110 cm, the row width can be reduced by one-third, and because the new shoots grow diagonally upwards, the sprouting of side shoots is reduced, preventing the waste of nutrients, and also has the effect of reducing the extra work of bud thinning, pinching, or training. Work efficiency is improved compared to the overhead flat trellis system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the present invention as seen from the direction of the furrow. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the present invention as seen from the cross-sectional direction of the furrow. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Multiple support posts are erected in the direction of the furrow, and the tops of each are connected by horizontal downspouts. A corrugated roof rain shelter is then installed in a V-shape so that rainwater flows into it (if the length of the new shoots is 110 cm, the top of the V-shaped roof should be at approximately 220 cm, which is just within reach of an adult male's hand; if the angle of the V-shaped roof is 45 degrees, the height of the support posts should be approximately 150 cm. The width of each ridge of the corrugated roof should be around 20 cm, depending on the internode distance of the variety). The bottom of the corrugated roof, on the ground side, is connected to the horizontal downspouts every 30 cm in the direction of the furrow with wires. [Examples]

[0009] We constructed a corrugated roof frame using lumber, stretched wire as the staggered ribs of the corrugated roof, and then threaded agricultural plastic sheeting over it in an alternating pattern to create the corrugated roof. When we tested it on a slope, we were able to confirm the principle of self-regulating pruning. However, we found that the lumber bent, causing horizontal wrinkles in the plastic sheeting, dust accumulated and reducing light transmission, and maintenance became complicated. Moreover, it was damaged by a typhoon, so there is a proposal to use steel pipes for the frame, but it is difficult to keep them taut both vertically and horizontally, so if we use plastic sheeting as roofing material, it seems that we have no choice but to use thin rods like the ribs of an umbrella. Normally, the supports of such structures are anchored by welding a plate in a T-shape to the end of the post in the ground or by attaching a concrete block. However, if we adopt the method for further work reduction and quality improvement described in a separate patent application, the posts can be connected and fixed in the ground with partition plates, which can serve multiple purposes and improve cost-effectiveness for both parties.

[0010] Until development costs are recovered through mass production and corrugated frames become cheaper, it would be best to injection-molde acrylic sheets into a corrugated shape and place them on the diagonal gutters / roof mounting frames at both ends of the V-shaped roof ridges. The inner sag will be supported by overhead wires connecting the diagonal gutters / mounting frames. [Industrial applicability]

[0011] I believe this can be applied to other fruit trees such as kiwis. [Explanation of symbols]

[0012] 1 V-shaped roof support 2 Side rain gutter 3. Corrugated roof for rain protection 4. Diagonal rain gutter and roof mounting frame 5. Overhead lines 6 grapes

Claims

1. This rain shelter structure involves erecting multiple support posts in the direction of the furrows, connecting the tops of each post with horizontal downpipes, and installing a V-shaped corrugated roof to allow rainwater to flow into them. The ground side of the bottom of the corrugated roof is connected to the horizontal downpipes at regular intervals in the direction of the furrows with overhead wires.

2. A method for shaping new shoots using the rain-shelter structure described in claim 1, wherein seedlings are planted directly beneath a V-shaped roof, the growing shoots are extended in a straight line in the direction of the ridge directly below the horizontal rain gutter to form the main branch, and when new shoots sprout from both sides, the grape's natural tendency is to grow upwards, causing it to hit the corrugated roof structure, but if it tries to grow further it will reach the nearest ridge, and thereafter it will be autonomously shaped along the ridge.

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