Episode
092: Vineyard Nutrition Essentials - Nitrogen Fundamentals with Dr. Markus Keller
- Podcast
- Vineyard Underground
- Published
- Mar 3, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4143
- Processing state
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Summary
In this first installment of a three-part vineyard nutrition series, Dr. Markus Keller joins us to break down one of the most influential nutrients in vineyard management: nitrogen. We explore from the ground up. Dr. Keller explains what nitrogen is, where it comes from in vineyard soils, and why it plays such a critical role in vine growth, fruit set, and overall vine performance. While nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere, vines rely on soil processes to convert it into plant-available forms like nitrate. Dr. Keller details how nitrogen influences vigor, canopy density, fruit set, berry size, phenolic development, and even wine quality. The episode also dives into how soil type, organic matter, temperature, moisture, and cover crops affect nitrogen availability. For growers across diverse regions, this conversation highlights why vineyard nutrition strategies must be site-specific. Whether you're managing high-vigor blocks or navigating lean soils, episode one of our three-part series equips vineyard owners and operators with foundational knowledge to make smarter nitrogen decisions. In this episode, you will hear: Nitrogen primarily comes from soil organic matter, not rock minerals Microbial activity drives nitrogen availability in vineyards Both deficiency and excess nitrogen can reduce vine balance and fruitfulness Soil moisture and temperature strongly influence nitrogen mineralization Leaf blade tissue sampling offers improved precision for nitrogen analysis Follow and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more listeners. 💜 Click the '+' in the top right corner of Apple Podcasts to follow now. Resources: Visit www.virtualviticultureacademy.com/sampling to acc…