Articles
LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY RESPONSE TO SEVERAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
Article number
810_98
Pages
741 – 746
Language
English
Abstract
Four organic fertilizers were evaluated in a commercial lowbush blueberry field with a history of N and P deficiency.
In non-organic production, diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the standard fertilizer for correcting N and P deficiency.
At a rate of 67 kg N/ha Rennaisance (8-2-6) (Renaissance Fertilizer, Inc., Minnetonka, MN), Pro-Holly (4-6-4) (North Country Organics, Bradford, Vt), Pro-Grow (5-3-4) (North Country Organics, Bradford, Vt), Nutri-Wave (4-1-2) (Envirem Technologies, Inc., Fredricton, NB), or DAP (18-46-0) was applied preemergent to 1.8 m x 15 m treatment plots.
Leaf N and P were deficient (< 1.6% and 0.125%, for N and P, respectively) in the unfertilized plots that served as controls.
DAP and Pro-Holly raised leaf N concentrations to satisfactory levels (>1.6%). Only DAP raised leaf P concentrations (0.144%), compared to controls (0.122%). Leaf K was not deficient but was raised by Pro-Holly.
Soil pH was slightly lowered by Rennaisance (4.2) and raised by Pro-Holly (4.4), compared to the control (4.3). Soil P concentrations were raised by DAP and soil S by Pro-Holly.
Soil K was raised by all fertilizers except DAP, compared to the control.
Pro-Holly and DAP were equally effective in increasing stem height, branching, branch length, flower bud formation, and yield, compared to the control and the other organic fertilizers.
Pro-Holly could effectively substitute for DAP in organic wild blueberry production.
In non-organic production, diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the standard fertilizer for correcting N and P deficiency.
At a rate of 67 kg N/ha Rennaisance (8-2-6) (Renaissance Fertilizer, Inc., Minnetonka, MN), Pro-Holly (4-6-4) (North Country Organics, Bradford, Vt), Pro-Grow (5-3-4) (North Country Organics, Bradford, Vt), Nutri-Wave (4-1-2) (Envirem Technologies, Inc., Fredricton, NB), or DAP (18-46-0) was applied preemergent to 1.8 m x 15 m treatment plots.
Leaf N and P were deficient (< 1.6% and 0.125%, for N and P, respectively) in the unfertilized plots that served as controls.
DAP and Pro-Holly raised leaf N concentrations to satisfactory levels (>1.6%). Only DAP raised leaf P concentrations (0.144%), compared to controls (0.122%). Leaf K was not deficient but was raised by Pro-Holly.
Soil pH was slightly lowered by Rennaisance (4.2) and raised by Pro-Holly (4.4), compared to the control (4.3). Soil P concentrations were raised by DAP and soil S by Pro-Holly.
Soil K was raised by all fertilizers except DAP, compared to the control.
Pro-Holly and DAP were equally effective in increasing stem height, branching, branch length, flower bud formation, and yield, compared to the control and the other organic fertilizers.
Pro-Holly could effectively substitute for DAP in organic wild blueberry production.
Publication
Authors
J.M. Smagula, I. Fastook
Keywords
Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., diammonium phosphate, plant nutrition
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