Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of pruning, fertilizers, and organic amendments on lowbush blueberry production

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A four-year field study was conducted on a Hebert gravelly sandy loam (pH 4.5) in Nova Scotia to assess the effects of pruning management and seven fertility amendments on lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium augustifolium Ait) production (yield, above ground and root tissue composition) and soil fertility. Pruning by oil burning produced higher fruit yields than flail mowing but burning had the opposite effect on the plant N content (with a lesser influence on above ground Mn and Zn). None of the fertility treatments (chicken manure, dairy manure, swine manure, urea, sawdust, NPK, NPK+S+Lime+Micronutrients) produced fruit yields significantly greater than the control. Treatments provided the equivalent of 50kg total N/ha/2-yr cycle. Treatments influenced tissue N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Mn, Cu, Zn and Mo levels. In general, the three manure treatments produced the highest levels of plant macronutrients; the urea treatment produced the lowest levels of plant nutrients. In most cases, extractable levels of soil P, K, Ca and Mg were highly correlated with the plant tissue content of these elements. Overall, the dairy manure treated soils were the highest in soil fertility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ismail A A and Yarborough D E 1981 A comparison between flail mowing and burning for pruning lowbush blueberries. Hort. Science 16, 318–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Issac R A and Kerber J D 1971 Atomic absorption and flame photometry: techniques and uses in soil, plant and water analysisIn Instrumental Methods for Analysis of Soils and Plant Tissue. Ed. L M Walsh pp 17–37 Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc., Madison, Wisc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson M L 1958 Soil chemical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kender W J, Eggert F P and Whiton L 1964 Growth and yield of lowbush blueberries as infuenced by various pruning methods. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc. 84, 269–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevett M F 1956 Observations on the decline and rehabilitation of lowbush blueberry fields. Maine Agr. Expt. Sta. Misc. Pub. 626.

  • Trevett M F 1971 Poultry manure in lowbush blueberries. Main Agric. Expt. Sta. Misc. Rpt. 133.

  • Trevett M F 1972 The integrated management of lowbush blueberry fields: a review and forecast. Maine Agric. Expt. Sta. Bull. 699.

  • Warman P R 1985 The effect of organic amendments on lowbush blueberry production. Proc. of the 5th International Symp. Agr. Wastes. Chicago, Ill., ASAE publ. 13–85, pp 418–425.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry-Soils Department, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, B2N 5E3, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

    P R Warman

Authors
  1. P R Warman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Warman, P.R. The effects of pruning, fertilizers, and organic amendments on lowbush blueberry production. Plant Soil 101, 67–72 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371032

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371032

Key words

Search

Navigation