EFFECT OF SOIL MOISTURE AND FERTILIZER ON THE POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL YIELD OF LOWBUSH BLUEBERRIES

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE R. BENOIT ◽  
WALTER J. GRANT ◽  
AMR A. ISMAIL ◽  
DAVID E. YARBOROUGH

Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) plants were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions to determine the effect of soil moisture stress and fertilizer applied during the year of bud formation on plant growth and development. Greenhouse plants grown under water treatments of 0.2 (about field capacity), 0.6, 1.0 and 5.0 bars did not differ significantly in number of stems per plant or flower buds per stem. A significant increase in the number of flowers per stem was detected for the 0.2- and 0.6-bar treatments over the 1.0- and 5.0-bar treatments. A highly significant trend was an increase in flowers per plant related to an increase in water application. Established field plants had no significant difference in the number of flowers between the unirrigated control and the 0.6- or 0.2-bar treatments. The number and total weight of berries increased significantly with increased water availability during the vegetative growth year but individual berry size remained the same. Irrigation during the year of bud formation may result in increased yield during the crop year. No significant fertilizer application effect was detected on the parameters evaluated.Key words: Vaccinium angustifolium, flower buds

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1033-1035
Author(s):  
I. V. HALL ◽  
J. M. BURROWS ◽  
P. D. HILDEBRAND

Burn pruning with a conventional and modified oil burner was compared in a lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) field. No significant difference in length of stems, number of flower buds per stem or number of branched stems was found, but intensity of branching on stems increased following pruning with the modified burner. The modified burner required 30–50% less oil than the conventional burner.Key words: Lowbush blueberry, pruning, modified burner


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Randall ◽  
Olson and Leonard J. Eaton

Closed flower buds and flowers at full bloom of Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. were collected from the field and histologically examined after severe spring frosts. Prior to anthesis, blackened ovarian placentae in closed buds were the only damaged tissues evident; placental damage may interfere with both seed and fruit set. Undetected frost damaged placentae may contribute to losses in commercial yield. Key words: Vaccinium, frost damage, placenta


1975 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 196-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Day ◽  
G. R. MacGillivray

The root regenerating potential of fall-lifted 2+0 white spruce nursery stock is described after transplanting into soil-maintained at 8, 10 and 15% soil moisture content (SMC) in glass fronted root boxes. At 15% SMC (0.1 bar soil moisture tension), which is close to field capacity, root regeneration began 10 days after transplanting and root elongation continued at a high rate for the remainder of a 40-day study period. At 10% SMC (0.6 bar SMT) root regeneration was delayed until 20 days after transplanting and root elongation was at a slower rate. At 8% SMC (1.5 bars) root regeneration and elongation was negligible. Plant moisture stress measured at 40 days was least when root regeneration was most and vice versa. The results suggest that field planting of white spruce in soils with moisture tensions of over 0.6 bar will be hazardous.


1965 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. S. Ferguson

Mean weekly evapotranspiration by spring wheat at Brandon, Man. (1955–1959) was dependent on the stage of development of the crop. It increased from 0.70 in. per week at the 3-leaf stage to 1.45 in. per week at the flowering stage and decreased to 0.60 in. per week as the crop reached maturity. Evapotranspiration was correlated positively with Bellani-plate evaporation when the soil was moist to the surface and correlated negatively when the surface soil was dry, but total soil moisture was greater than 50% of field capacity. When the soil moisture was less than 50% of field capacity evapotranspiration was not correlated with Bellani-plate evaporation. Evapotranspiration was correlated positively with total soil moisture plus rainfall. This emphasizes the importance of moisture stress in limiting evapotranspiration in a semi-arid region.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1263-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Sanderson ◽  
J. A. Cutcliffe

The effect of sawdust mulch applied at 0-, 5- and 10-cm depths on yield of select clones of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) was studied in Prince Edward Island for three consecutive cropping cycles from 1985 to 1989. Sawdust applied post-plant, as a mulch, at a depth of 5 cm increased the total yield of the first three harvests by approximately 30% compared to the 0-cm mulch. Mean berry weight was also increased where sawdust was applied. There was not significant difference in yield between the 0- and 10-cm sawdust application treatments. The 10-cm sawdust mulch reduced plant survival by 23% compared with the check. Key words: Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., select clone, sawdust mulch, yield


1961 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 1733-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Hall ◽  
R. A. Ludwig

A study of the effect of environmental factors on the growth and development of the lowbush blueberry was carried out using clonally propagated plants. In a preliminary study a definite photoperiodic response was found. Under 8-hour days flower buds were formed and no vegetative growth occurred. Under 16-hour days vegetative growth resulted and no flower bud formation occurred. In a replicated greenhouse experiment, seven clones produced flower buds with 8-, 10-, and 12-hour days, but produced none with 14- or 16-hour days. One clone produced flower buds with 8-, 10,- 12-, and 14-, but none with 16-hour days. Two clones were able to produce flower buds under all five photoperiods. Under 8- and 10- hour photoperiods no vegetative growth occurred. Under 12, 14, and 16 hours progressively more vegetative growth occurred. In an experiment on the interaction of temperature and photoperiod, vegetative growth was significantly greater at 70° F than at 50° F with the differences being accentuated by day length. Flower bud formation occurred with 11- and 13-hour photoperiods regardless of temperature, but was more pronounced at the higher temperatures. At 70° F, 15-hour photoperiod, no flower buds were formed while at 50° F, 15 hours, three clones produced no flower buds and six clones produced an abnormal type of inflorescence. Similar abnormal inflorescences were produced by giving plants 2, 3, or 4 weeks of 8-hour days. Six weeks of 8-hour days was sufficient to initiate normal inflorescences. Shade, provided by two layers of cheesecloth, significantly reduced the number of flower buds compared with full sunlight. The growth of the lowbush blueberry under field and laboratory conditions is discussed in relation to environmental factors.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juran C. Goyali ◽  
Abir U. Igamberdiev ◽  
Samir C. Debnath

Goyali, J. C., Igamberdiev, A. U. and Debnath, S. C. 2013. Morphology, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) plants as affected by in vitro and ex vitro propagation methods. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 1001–1008. The lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.), a commercially important crop in eastern Canada and the United States of America, is native to North America. It is one of the richest sources of antioxidant compounds and has been reported to be a potential component in reducing the incidence of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of propagation methods on morphological characters, phenolic content and antioxidant activity. A lowbush blueberry clone, QB 9C, and a cultivar, Fundy, were studied over two growing seasons after being propagated by conventional softwood cutting (SC) and by tissue culture (TC). Significant interactions among genotypes, propagation methods and growing seasons were observed for number of flower buds, total flavonoid (TFC) and proanthocyanidin (PAC) contents and antioxidant capacity. Propagation method interacted significantly with genotypes for the number of stems per plant and total phenolic (TPC) and chlorophyll contents, and with growing season for number of flower buds, TFC and PAC. TC plants produced higher number of stems and branches compared with SC plants. TPC, TFC, PAC, chlorophyll content and antioxidant activity were found in higher levels in the leaves of QB 9C compared with those of Fundy plants. The juvenile characteristics of TC plants which are triggered by growth hormones and readily available nutrients of culture media may be responsible for differences in morphological traits and antioxidant activity.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Penney ◽  
K. B. McRae ◽  
G. A. Bishop

Most commercial blueberry growers follow a 2-yr pruning cycle because second-crop yield in a 3-yr cycle is usually too low for an economical harvest. Research was conducted to determine the extent to which second-crop production could be increased by applying fertilizer in the second-crop year. Treatments, consisting of factorial combinations of N (0, 60 kg ha-1), P (0, 26 kg ha-1), and K (0, 50 kg ha-1), were studied over two 3-yr burn-pruning cycles on a natural lowbush blueberry stand. Treatments were applied prior to, or shortly after, flower buds started to swell in the spring of the second-crop year. Nitrogen increased ripe fruit yield by 65% (3410 vs. 2070 kg ha-1) when compared with plots not previously fertilized with N, and by 43% (3410 vs. 2380 kg ha-1) when compared with plots previously fertilized with N. These results indicate that N might make the second crop economical to harvest. Phosphorus did not significantly affect yield, but K applied in combination with N in the second-crop year negatively affected production and Mg uptake. The increase in yield by N was due to more ripe berries resulting from a higher total (ripe + unripe) number of berries and hastened maturity that increased the percentage of ripe fruit. Reduced fruit abortion is suspected to be the reason for higher berry numbers. In contrast, the negative response to K applications with N was due to reduced total berry numbers. Key words: NK interaction, N × K interaction, potassium, nutrition, fertility, fruit abortion


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 881A-881
Author(s):  
Youzhi Chen ◽  
John M. Smagula

Foliar sprays of B (400 ppm), Ca (4000 ppm), B (400 ppm) + Ca (4000 ppm), or water (control) were applied in Sept. 1993 to treatment plots of 12 lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) clones having low leaf B concentrations (<20 ppm). Boron concentration was raised in stem and bud tissue 3 months after application, but Ca concentration was unaffected. Twenty randomly selected stems with four flower buds were tagged in each treatment plot in Apr. 1994 to determine treatment effects on fruit set and fruit characteristics. Blossoms on tagged stems were counted in late May and a count of initial fruit was taken in early July. Initial fruit set was reduced slightly by the Ca treatment, which also resulted in a lower number of flowers per bud. Tagged stems were cut before plot harvest and stored at –15C for final fruit set and fruit characteristic measurements (fruit number, diameter, weight, and firmness, and seed number and size). Treated plots were harvested and weighed in August. Boron and Ca treatments did not increase yields averaged across all clones, but some clones showed a positive response. Yield of Ca-treated plots was significantly lower than the plots without Ca treatment. Effect of treatments on final fruit set and fruit characteristics will be presented.


1998 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youzhi Chen ◽  
John M. Smagula ◽  
Walter Litten ◽  
Scott Dunham

In a managed field of native Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. clones, the effect of fall foliar sprays of B at 345 g·ha-1 and/or Ca at 3,450 g·ha-1 in remedying tissue deficiency of B varied among 12 clones, as seen in pollen germinability and on individual stems as seen in flower number, fruit set, and number of harvestable berries. With Ca applied alone, increased berry size did not overcome yield reduction due to fewer flowers and berries per stem. Berry diameter and mass correlated better to number of seeds of germinable size than to total number of seeds. Pollen germination averaged 17.4% on stigmata from untreated clones, and all three treatments (B, Ca, B + Ca) increased that average by 8%. More seeds per berry with the B-alone treatment implies more ovules fertilized when B deficiency is remedied. No relation was found between in vitro and in vivo pollen germination.


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