STUDIES ON SUBSTRATES FOR BLUEBERRY CULTIVATION

Two-year old ‘Northblue’ half-high (Vaccinium corymbosum L. × V. angustifolium Ait. hybrid) blueberries were planted in different substrates.
The physical, chemical, and fertility properties of several substrates and their effects on growth and development of ‘Northblue’ blueberry were studied.
The substrate treatments included pine sawdust, peat, garden soil, perlite and sand and combinations.
The following results were observed.
The application of gravel produced loose and well drained media but raised the pH. Added perlite improved air-filled porosity (AFP), but lowered the water and nutrient holding capacity.
Applied peat increased the organic matter content, lowered the pH, improved AFP, and increased the water and nutrient holding capacity.
Peat and sawdust, as components of the mix, increased the number of plant leaves, average leaf area, shoot length, and shoot thickness.
Gravel negatively impacted plant growth.
The pH was critical to the growth and development of blueberry plants.
When the pH was higher than 6, plant growth was bad and the plants showed iron chlorosis.

IX International Vaccinium Symposium

Zhao-Sen Xie, Xiao-Chun Wu

sawdust, peat, wood vinegar, mixed substrate, Vaccinium corymbosum, V. angustifolium, half-high

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.810.68