Articles
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES OF RABBITEYE AND HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES
Rooted cuttings of "Tifblue" rabbiteye and "Herbert" highbush blueberry were grown under water culture in 1987, and "Tifblue" were grown under soil culture from 1985 to 1987.
In water culture, the best growth of top and root was gained on the plants treated with complete mineral nutrients, though the plants minus K and Ca both showed the least growth; growth of plants minus N, P, Mg and Fe ranked intermediate in rabbiteye and highbush blueberries.
The plants treated with complete mineral nutrients were the most healthy, and the leaves were large size, with normal green color in rabbiteye and highbush blueberries.
The leaves of minus N treatment were light green and yellowish.
P deficiency symptoms developed as a slight purpling on the leaves.
K deficiency symptoms were apparent as an interveinal chlorosis on the young leaves, and at the late stage the leaves were scorched and defoliated.
Ca deficiency symptoms on leaves were similar to K deficiency.
Mg deficiency appeared as a distinct reddening between the veins, followed by necrosis.
Fe deficiency symptoms appeared first on younger leaves as an interveinal chlorosis.
The concentration of each minus element of leaves was the least in each minus treatment.
In soil culture, shoot length and fruit yield of the plants treated with complete mineral nutrients and minus Ca were superior; plant growth of minus N and P was least and the growth of minus K, Mg and Fe ranged intermediate.
Deficiency symptoms, however, appeared only in minus N, P and K treatments.