Effect of Plant Spacing, Sawdust Mulch and Trickle Irrigation on the Cultivated Lowbush Blueberry

Abstract

Two plant management studies, each conducted over 8 growing seasons, utilized a seedling and several clones of cultivated lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.). In one, 4 clones were grown in 3 row spacings and in the second study sawdust mulch and trickle irrigation treatments were applied to a clone and a seedling. Marketable fruit yields of 'Augusta,' 'Chignecto' and '510' were higher than for 'Brunswick' over 5 seasons. Marketable fruit yields per plant were not significantly affected by plant spacing during the initial 3 consecutive harvests; however, following a burn-sprout season, the single row plant spacing had significantly higher marketable yields per plant than the double and triple row plant spacings in the 2 remaining harvests. 0verall sawdust mulch-higation treatments, total marketable fruit yields of 'Chignecto' were greater than those of the seedling 'Chignecto' x '70-i3' in 3 of 4 harvest seasons. Sawdust mulch significantly increased total marketable yield in 3 of 4 harvest...