Blueberry field management and harvesting.

Abstract

Abstract This chapter covers several management practices of utmost importance in blueberry cultivation, including mulching, protected cultivation, soilless culture, irrigation, pruning, grafting, pollination and harvesting. The impact of insufficient or excess water is explained. The methods to determine water status in blueberry fields are discussed and the most important irrigation systems compared. In the case of mulching, the characteristics, considerations and effects of both organic and plastic materials are presented. Soilless and protected cultivation techniques and their effects on plant behaviour are addressed. The timing, intensity and effects of pruning are presented, along with the reproductive biology of blueberries and the most effective planting designs to maximize yield and fruit quality. A section on pollination and its impact on fruit size, fruit set and yield is included. The section on grafting presents the developments that have occurred in this area. The different types of harvesting and their effect on fruit quality at both harvest and postharvest are also discussed.