Articles
Techniques to improve fertilizer usage in wild blueberry fields: impact on growth parameters
Article number
1440_68
Pages
497 – 504
Language
English
Abstract
Research and development activities on reducing conventional granular, soil-applied fertilizer use and its associated greenhouse gas emissions commenced in two commercial wild blueberry fields in 2023. Liquid fertilizer was examined due to the ability to precisely apply the product as compared to soil-applied granular fertilizers.
In addition, this study assessed the potential of using a biological atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria product (Envita™ – Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus) to improve nutrient use efficiency, reduce fertilizer usage, and potentially environmental greenhouse gas levels.
A split-plot experimental design was used, with 5 replicates and 5 treatments (0, 20, 40, 60, 100 kg N ha‑1) of Alpine + Envita™ on a 4×4 m plot with 2 m buffers.
The DJI Matrice 300 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was equipped with a 5-banded multispectral Micasense camera and flown at 30 m.
Leaf area index (LAI) measurements were conducted at the field level using the Sunscan remote device and the traditional quadrant method.
ANOVA was performed to assess alpine and Envita treatment effects.
Preliminary results illustrated that significant differences were established between the Envita (EVT)-treated and non-Envita (NO-EVT)-treated under LAI and stem length.
At Mount Thom and Murray Siding, the LAI values were observed to be 4.1 and 17.2% higher in the Envita treatment as compared to the non-Envita treatment.
Furthermore, significant differences were established between vegetative bud numbers (VBN) under the different Alpine treatments in the two locations.
However, there were no significant effects of the whole plot (Alpine) treatment on stem length and LAI. However, treatment 3 (40 kg N ha‑1) obtained the highest VBN compared to the other treatments.
In conclusion, this study provides an assessment of efforts to reduce fertilization through a nutrient regulatory approach and the use of bacteria to improve the atmospheric nutrient-fixing efficiency in wild blueberry fields.
In addition, this study assessed the potential of using a biological atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria product (Envita™ – Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus) to improve nutrient use efficiency, reduce fertilizer usage, and potentially environmental greenhouse gas levels.
A split-plot experimental design was used, with 5 replicates and 5 treatments (0, 20, 40, 60, 100 kg N ha‑1) of Alpine + Envita™ on a 4×4 m plot with 2 m buffers.
The DJI Matrice 300 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was equipped with a 5-banded multispectral Micasense camera and flown at 30 m.
Leaf area index (LAI) measurements were conducted at the field level using the Sunscan remote device and the traditional quadrant method.
ANOVA was performed to assess alpine and Envita treatment effects.
Preliminary results illustrated that significant differences were established between the Envita (EVT)-treated and non-Envita (NO-EVT)-treated under LAI and stem length.
At Mount Thom and Murray Siding, the LAI values were observed to be 4.1 and 17.2% higher in the Envita treatment as compared to the non-Envita treatment.
Furthermore, significant differences were established between vegetative bud numbers (VBN) under the different Alpine treatments in the two locations.
However, there were no significant effects of the whole plot (Alpine) treatment on stem length and LAI. However, treatment 3 (40 kg N ha‑1) obtained the highest VBN compared to the other treatments.
In conclusion, this study provides an assessment of efforts to reduce fertilization through a nutrient regulatory approach and the use of bacteria to improve the atmospheric nutrient-fixing efficiency in wild blueberry fields.
Publication
Authors
K.E. Anku, O.S. Popoola, D.C. Percival
Keywords
nitrogen-fixing bacteria, remote sensing, multispectral, Envita, Alpine, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
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