Abstract Background and goals Vineyard nutrient budgeting as a basis for efficient nutrient management is essential to maintain grapevine productivity and fruit quality. This study quantified nutrient removal through harvested fruit, senescent leaves, and pruned canes across four wine and juice grape cultivars in arid eastern Washington over 3 yr. Methods and key findings Vine tissue samples were collected from Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, and Concord vineyards from 2021 through 2023. Biomass and concentrations of macro- and micronutrients were measured in harvested fruit, abscised leaves and, in winegrapes, pruned canes. Overall, potassium and nitrogen accounted for the largest macronutrient losses. Fruit harvest was responsible for most of the nutrient removal, which varied with crop yield. Abscised leaves and pruned canes contributed additional potential nutrient losses, with higher biomass production amplifying the removal of macronutrients such as nitrogen and calcium. Early fall frost events disrupted the remobilization of foliar nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to increased nutrient retention in senescent leaves. Conclusions and significance This study highlights the importance of properly accounting for annual nutrient losses in vineyards. The findings underscore the need for holistic nutrient budgets that incorporate all loss pathways to support long-term vineyard sustainability, providing actionable insights for optimizing fertilization strategies and improving nutrient use efficiency.
Shcherbatyuk et al. (2026) studied this question.