NITROGEN FERTILIZATION OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY

Highbush blueberries have been shown to respond to nitrogen (N) additions in nearly every region where they have been cultivated.
They also differ from most cultivated species in their preference for the ammonium form of N over nitrate-N, their requirement for acidic soils, and the prevalence of mycorrhizae.
Highbush blueberries are now grown in many non-native regions, and often on soils that have been modified by acidification or organic matter additions.
These varied soil conditions can potentially affect N dynamics and uptake by blueberries, and may partly explain why N application rates and timings vary in different regions.
Efficient use of N is an important goal that can reduce production costs and the potential for adverse environmental impacts.
Much of the blueberry acreage in several major production regions is located on coarse textured soils that are prone to N leaching.
Factors affecting N uptake by blueberries and the efficiency of fertilization practices are reviewed.

VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

E.J. Hanson

ammonium, nitrate, nitrification, Vaccinium corymbosum

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.715.51