ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
THE INFLUENCE OF MULCHING ON NUTRITION AND YIELD OF ´NORTHBLUE´ BLUEBERRY |
| Authors: | K. Karp, M. Noormets, M. Starast, T. Paal |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium corymbosum × Vaccinium angustifolium, sawdust mulch, peat mulch, plastic mulch, pHKCl |
| Abstract:
Research to optimize blueberry cultivation in Estonia started in the Department of Horticulture at Estonian Agricultural University. The first experiments were established with different cultivation technologies in 1997. The purpose of the present experiment is to ascertain the influence of different mulches on the nutrition and yield of fruit bearing plants. The data were collected the 5th and 6th year after planting. The cultivation treatments were a control without mulch, sawdust mulch, peat mulch, plastic mulch, and soil amended with peat and covered with peat or plastic mulch. The initial pH of the experimental area was pHKCl 5.9; this changed over the years significantly to a pH more suitable for blueberry in treatments where peat was used as mulch or as an amendment. In treatments where peat was used, the soil acidity in the upper soil layers was pH 4.3 to 5. The soil pH was 5.4 only in treatments where soil was amended with peat and plastic mulch was used. In deeper layers (10 to 15 cm) the pH was 5.8 to 6.1. Mulching treatment significantly influenced nutrient content of leaves. Chlorophyll meter readings were significantly lower in the leaves of control plants compared to the plants growing on different mulches (381 and 498, 542 SPAD units respectively). The average yield (2001, 2002) was 20 to 402 g/plant. Treatment and year had a significant effect on yield. The lowest yield was obtained in control plants (without mulch) and the highest was in plants where soil was amended with peat and a plastic mulch was used. | |
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