Effects of Mulching Blueberry Plants With Cranberry Fruits and Leaves On Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Weed Suppression

Abstract

Integration of local organic wastes as mulches into farm production can provide waste management options and an alternative to landfilling. In 2000, cranberry growers needed ways to dispose of excess cranberries caused by overproduction and a federal regulation limiting the fruit's marketable production. This study examined the use of excess cranberry fruits and leaves as mulches on established blueberry plants. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of these novel mulches on established blueberry plant nutrient uptake, fruit yield, selected soil chemical properties and weed suppression. A randomized block design was set up and maintained for two years with four different mulch treatments (no mulch, 5.1cm cranberry fruit, 10.2-cm cranberry fruit and 10.2-cm cranberry leaves). Leaf tissue nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, S, B, Al), fruit yield and average fruit size, selected soil properties, weed biomass and number of weed types were determined. In the second year, the fruit yield in the mulched treatments was lower than in the control (P<0.05), but not the fruit size. One possible reason is a significant decrease in leaf nitrogen uptake observed in some mulch plots. Weed biomass was significantly reduced along with species diversity. This study shows that novel mulches need to be carefully evaluated before being used due to their potential environmental and plant impacts.