EFFECT OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL POTTING MEDIA CHARACTERISTICS ON GROWTH OF CONTAINER-GROWN RABBITEYE BLUEBERRIES

Thirteen potting media, made of different combinations of an andisol, coarse sand, pine sawdust and pine bark were evaluated for the production of container-grown rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) plants.
Physical and chemical characteristics of the potting media varied depending on the proportions of the different media components used.
The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions and plant growth was determined measuring shoot length and number, and fresh and dry weight of both roots and shoots.

Of all physical characteristics considered, which included real and apparent density, water holding capacity, porosity, and porous space free of water, only the last two were correlated with plant growth.
Of all chemical characteristics evaluated, media pH and exchangeable-Na were negatively correlated with growth.
Potting media with high porosity and pore space free of water, showed the largest plant growth, and were those containing over 75 % sawdust or 85 % coarse sand.

V International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

C. Muñoz, R. Soto, J. Valenzuela

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.346.22