“…Nevertheless, this variable was not evaluated in the present study. But, in addition, greater grape yield may have occurred because organic compost has a small area of contact with the soil surface, which prolongs the release and availability of forms of N in the vineyard soil (MELO et al 2012, LORENSINI et al 2014 and, therefore, one may expect that the grapevine utilizes a greater quantity of the N derived from the organic compost. Nevertheless, it is fitting to report that in this 2008/2009 crop season, the lower release of N from the compost to the soil may have occurred because of the lower volume of rainfall (Figure 1) and, consequently and possibly, of soil moisture, especially in the months after its application up to grape harvest, with the exception of the months of October 2008 and January 2009, in NH3-N through the volatilization which occurs in greater intensity soon after its application on the soil surface (LORENSINI et al 2012).…”