Fertilization of rabbiteye blueberries grown on a typic paleudult soil |
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| Authors: | James M Spiers |
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| Institution: | USDA‐ARS , Small Fruit Research Station , P.O. Box 287, Popularville, MS, 39470 |
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| Abstract: | A 6 year field study comparing the effects of 5 fertilizer sources applied at 4 levels to 3 rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars was established on a Typic paleudult soil in southern Misssssippi. Fertilizer sources had little influence on plant height, vigor, chlorosis, or fruit yield. The first year, ‘Tifblue’ was lowest in vigor and fruit yield, but after 4 growing seasons, had the highest plant height and fruit yields. Chlorosis symptoms were more prevalent at the highest fertilization rate, in the cultivar ‘Woodard’, and with Ca(NO3)2 fertilizer. During the first 5 years, fruit yields increased as fertilization levels increased from 0 to 5.9 g N/plant but additional fertilization did not influence yields There were no differences in plant vigor due to cultivars but the highest rate of fertilization decreased vigor. The cultivar X fertilization rate interaction was significant for plant height in 1983 and for fruit yields in 1984 and 1985. ‘Delite’ and ‘Woodard’ plant height increased while height of ‘Tifblue’ decreased as fertilization rates increased from the 0 to 5.9 g N/plant levels; higher rates decreased plant height in all cultivars. In 1984 and 1985 fruit yields of ‘Woodard’ and ‘Delite’ were not influenced by fertilization but yields of ‘Tifblue’ indicated a negative response to increasing fertilizer levels. |
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| Keywords: | Vaccinium ashei Reade N nutrition |
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