GROWTH RESPONSE OF A HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY UNDER TRICKLE AND MICROJET IRRIGATION: FIRST YEAR AFTER ESTABLISHMENT.

This study was carried out between October 1990 and May 1991 at the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Concepcion in Chillan, Chile (36° 41′ latitude south), in order to determine the growth response of a highbush blueberry (Bluetta) under microjet or drip irrigation, with increasing levels of water reposition.
A completely randomized block design was used, consisting of a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement, with four replicates.
The treatments considered two irrigation methods, microjet and trickle irrigation; the subtreatments consisted in the reposition of 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% of the potential evapotranspiration calculated on the bases of a class A pan evaporation.
The results obtained during the first year after planting show that there is a better growth response with the trickle irrigation than with the microjet system.
When plants were drip-irrigated, the best growth was obtained with a level of reposition of 60% of the potential evapotranspiration.
In the microjet irrigation system, plants grew more with a level of reposition of 45% of the potential evapotranspiration; levels around 60% of the ET pot were excessive.

V International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

E.A. Holzapfel, R.F. Hepp, M.E. Jaureguiberry, H.E. Serri

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.346.16