Fertilization of temperate fruit trees, such as grapevine ( Vitis spp.), apple ( Malus domestica), and pear ( Pyrus communis) is an important tool to achive maximum yield and fruit quality. Fertilizers are provided when soil fertility does not allow trees to express their genetic potential, and time and rate of application should be scheduled to promote fruit quality. Grapevine berries, must and wine quality are affected principally by N, that regulate the synthesis of some important compounds, such as anthocyanins, which are responsible for coloring of the must and the wine. Fermenation of the must may stop in grapes with low concentration of N because N is requested in high amount by yeasts. An N excess may increase the pulp to peel ratio, diluting the concentration of anthocyanins and promoting the migration of anthocyanins from berries to the growing plant organs; a decrease of grape juice soluble solid concentration is also expected because of an increase in vegetative growth. Potassium is also important for wine quality contributing to adequate berry maturation, concentration of sugars, synthesis of phenols and the regulation of pH and acidity. In apple and pear, Ca and K are important for fruit quality and storage. Potassium is the most important component of fruit, however, any excess should be avoided and an adequate K:Ca balance should be achieved. Adequate concentration of Ca in the fruit prevents pre- and post-harvest fruit disorders and, at the same time, increases tolerance to pathogens. Although N promotes adequate growth soil N availability should be monitored to avoid excessive N uptake that may decrease fruit skin color and storability.

Intercropping may be a strategy for phytoremediation of vineyard soils with high copper (Cu) content. The study aimed to evaluate the contribution of South American native grasses in limiting Cu availability and toxicity in soils grown with grapevines. The soil used in the experiment was collected in natural grassland with no history of cultivation. The samples were air-dried; acidity, P and K levels were corrected and samples were then incubated. We used three Cu levels - natural content (Dose 0) and the addition of 40 and 80 mg Cu kg-1 of soil (Dose 40 and 80). At each Cu dose, grapevine was grown in three cropping treatments: monocropping, intercropping with Paspalum plicatulum and intercropping with Axonopus affinis. In intercropping, two grass seedlings were transplanted into each experimental unit 35 days prior to the transplanting of the grapevines. The soil solution was sampled and ionic speciation was carried out. At 70 days after planting, we sampled the grapevines to determine dry matter, morphological parameters and nutrient concentration in the roots and shoots. Intercropping young grapevines with Paspalum plicatulum and Axonopus affinis was efficient in promoting the growth of young grapevines at moderate and low levels of Cu contamination by reducing Cu bioavailability. This indicates that maintaining native grasses in young vineyards is an effective strategy for phytoremediating Cu-contaminated soils and obtaining a grape production system with reduced interventions in the native environment, in addition to contributing to soil protection and nutrient cycling.

Frequent applications of copper (Cu)-based fungicides on vines causes the accumulation of this metal in vineyard soils, which can cause toxicity in young vines. However, liming may reduce these toxic effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Cu toxicity on the root anatomy of young vines and the alleviation of Cu toxicity by lime applications to contaminated sandy soil. The treatments consisted of the addition of lime (0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 Mg ha(-1)) and two Cu concentrations (0 and 50 mg kg(-1)) to Typic Hapludalf soil. Young vines 'Niágara Branca' (Vitis labrusca L.) were obtained by micropropagation and cultivated for 70 days. The young vines grown with Cu and without liming presented a disorganized root structure; reduced root cap size; increased diameter (47%), cortex area (128%), vascular cylinder area (93%), and number of cortical layers and cells containing phenolic compounds (132%); and reduced root (41%), stem (44%) and leaf dry mass (21%) and height increase (55%). Moreover, Cu exposure reduced Ca concentrations (13%) and increased Cu concentrations (371%) in the roots. Liming, primarily with the highest tested dose, increased the soil pH (from 4.4 to 5.4-6.1), decreased the Cu concentration in the soil (extracted by CaCl2), increased the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) uptake by plants, prevented root anatomical changes and benefited young vine growth in soil with higher Cu concentrations.

Soil analysis is used to estimate nutrient availability, but nutrient concentrations are not always related to yield in most fruit plants, including grapevines. Thus, additional multivariate mathematical models, such as the compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND), which takes into account leaves nutrient concentration, and yield, can contribute to estimating critical levels or sufficiency bands of elements, as well as to detect deficiency and/or excess of nutrients. The aim of the present study was to establish CND standards, and the critical level and sufficiency band of nutrients, in the grapevine Vitis vinifera L., grown in a subtropical climate region. Leaves were collected in 81 vineyards in the Campanha Gaúcha do Rio Grande do Sul region, Southern Brazil, and analyzed for macro- and micro-nutrient concentration. The yield of each vineyard was assessed. Grapevine nutritional status was calculated through the CND method. CND-r² indices were effective in establishing the nutritional status of grapevines for macro- and micro-nutrients as sub-optimal, excessive, or balanced. The CND methodology established the critical level and sufficiency bands of nutrients more accurately than the current recommendations for grapevines. Multi-nutrient associations were more effective than the single nutrient determination in defining the threshold of a given nutrient that can reduce grapevine yield.

The application of foliar fungicides in vineyards and orchards can increase soil concentration of heavy metals such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), up to the toxicity threshold for fruit trees and cover crops. However, some agronomic practices, such as liming, addition of organic fertilizers, cultivation of soil cover crops and inoculation of young plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can decrease the availability and the potential of heavy metal toxicity to fruit trees. This review aims to compile and present information about the effects of increasing concentrations of heavy metals, especially Cu and Zn, on soils cultivated with fruit trees and provides some agronomic practices of remediation. Information about the sources of heavy metals found in soils cultivated with fruit trees are presented; mechanisms of absorption, transport, accumulation and potential toxicity to plants are described.