Comparison of consecutive and alternate fertilizer applications in wild blueberry production

Abstract

Eaton, L. J., Sanderson, K. R. and Fillmore, S. A. E. 2009. Comparison of consecutive and alternate fertilizer applications in wild blueberry production. Can. J. Plant Sci. 89: 93-98. Research has shown that improved nutrient uptake and yield of wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait) are very sporadic when fertilizers are applied. Growers are concerned with environment impacts and keeping fertilizer costs to a minimum. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of wild blueberries to soil-applied fertilization over four cropping cycles in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia from 1997 to 2004. Commercial fertilizers (17-17-17, 18-46-0 and 13-26-5) were soil-applied in the sprout year either as a consecutive fertilizer application (every cropping cycle) or an alternate fertilizer application (every second cropping cycle). All fertilizers were applied at a rate of 200 kg ha -1. Fertilizer applications increased soil levels of P and K, leaf tissue concentrations of N and P and stem lengths of plants. Higher levels of soil P and leaf tissue concentrations of N, P and K were observed with consecutive than with alternate fertilizer applications. Average stem lengths, buds and blossoms per stem were higher over the length of the study when fertilizers were applied consecutively compared with alternately. Fruit yields were increased compared with the unfertilized control. Within applied fertilizers treatments, fruit yield was not affected when fertilizer was applied in either consecutive or alternate cropping cycles. Alternate fertilizer applications may reduce soil accumulation of P and production costs without comprising yields.