Tine weeding as a weed management tool for wild blueberry (Vaccinium augustifolium) growers in Maine

Annual and perennial weeds compete with commercially grown wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) in Maine and Atlantic Canada.
This two-year study sought to explore tine weeding as a mechanical weed management tool for both conventional and certified organic wild blueberry systems.
Tine weeding is a method of shallow early spring cultivation used on vegetable and small grain farms.
At two locations in Jonesboro Maine, tine weeding was explored on one date, two dates, and as 2 and 4 passes during the prune year.
While each location had a different starting weed community, sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), and horse weed (Erigeron canadensis) were among those weeds dislodged by this early tine-weeding exploration.
Tine weeding reduced the number of weeds in one of two locations, which had a less diverse weed community.
In both locations two passes with the tine weeder on one date in early May was most effective at removing the white thread stage weeds while causing the least damage to wild blueberry rhizomes.

XII International Vaccinium Symposium

L. Calderwood

wild blueberry, mechanical weed management, tine weed

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1357.38