Articles
Effect of planting system on the performance of highbush blueberry ‘Duke’ in protected environments
Article number
1449_40
Pages
299 – 306
Language
English
Abstract
Increasing consumer interest in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has led to expanded production, even in areas where natural cultivation conditions are not suitable.
However, the specific requirements for soil with high organic matter and low pH value mean that new production methods are being introduced, such as planting in ridges or pots with completely adjusted substrate.
Additional production challenges must be addressed, such as longer market presence, damage from hailstorms, birds, pests, and spring frosts.
To protect the plants against biotic and abiotic types of stress, blueberries can be grown in high tunnels or under hail net.
In the current study, we tested the performance of blueberry ‘Duke’, planted in pots or a ridge under a high tunnel or black hail net.
The high tunnel increased the maximum air temperature on average by 7.2 and 8°C in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Net photosynthesis was not significantly altered by the change in growing conditions.
The harvest began 7 to 9 days earlier under the high tunnel compared to the hail net.
Phenolics contents were in 2019 the highest in fruit harvested from the hail net and in 2020 in fruit from the high tunnel.
Growing blueberry plants in 60 L pots had no negative effects on fruit ripening time, firmness, hue angle, and chemical composition.
Our results indicate that the ‘Duke’ plants could benefit from the introduction of high tunnel or hail net, together with ridge or pot planting methods.
However, further research is still required, regarding growing blueberry plants in prolonged period under individual protected environment and planting system.
At the same time, the performance of different highbush blueberry cultivars should be evaluated.
However, the specific requirements for soil with high organic matter and low pH value mean that new production methods are being introduced, such as planting in ridges or pots with completely adjusted substrate.
Additional production challenges must be addressed, such as longer market presence, damage from hailstorms, birds, pests, and spring frosts.
To protect the plants against biotic and abiotic types of stress, blueberries can be grown in high tunnels or under hail net.
In the current study, we tested the performance of blueberry ‘Duke’, planted in pots or a ridge under a high tunnel or black hail net.
The high tunnel increased the maximum air temperature on average by 7.2 and 8°C in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Net photosynthesis was not significantly altered by the change in growing conditions.
The harvest began 7 to 9 days earlier under the high tunnel compared to the hail net.
Phenolics contents were in 2019 the highest in fruit harvested from the hail net and in 2020 in fruit from the high tunnel.
Growing blueberry plants in 60 L pots had no negative effects on fruit ripening time, firmness, hue angle, and chemical composition.
Our results indicate that the ‘Duke’ plants could benefit from the introduction of high tunnel or hail net, together with ridge or pot planting methods.
However, further research is still required, regarding growing blueberry plants in prolonged period under individual protected environment and planting system.
At the same time, the performance of different highbush blueberry cultivars should be evaluated.
Publication
Authors
T. Smrke, J. Jakopič, M. Hudina, R. Veberic
Keywords
‘Duke’, high tunnel, hail net, pots, microclimatic conditions, ripening, phenolics
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