A comparison of first and second cropping years of Nova Scotia lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) Ait.

Abstract

Traditional lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) production is based on a biennial management system with vegetative growth occurring the first year and fruit development and harvest in the second. An alternative to this management system is the 3-yr system (second-cropping) which is characterized by 2 cropping years/cycle. This study was initiated to quantify differences in vegetative and reproductive development between first and second cropping years of the lowbush blueberry and to determine why there are lower second crop yields. Second crops averaged 70% of first crop yields. Second crop plants had longer stems and higher branch numbers than first crop plants. Although both cropping years produced equal numbers of flower buds/stem, second crops had fewer blossoms/bud, blossoms/stem, set fruit, and berries/stem, resulting in lower fresh and dry weights of fruit/stem in second crop fields. Slower growth rate, fewer blossoms/bud, smaller leaf area/stem, and lower productivity of the second cropping year suggest that second crop stems have fewer resources available to achieve the same production level as first crop stems. Key words: Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium, 3-year management, second-cropping