Formation of cover, yield and low winter temperature tolerance of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) on the cutover raised-bog peatlands of Belarusian Lakeland

Abstract

A long-term introduction experiment conducted in 2009–2016 revealed that in the harshest weather conditions of the northern part of Belarus associated with a difficult environmental situation on a trial area, including weakly-decomposed acid sphagnum peat and the deficiency of artificial watering, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) due to the significant tolerance to abiotic factors of the environment completely fulfills its bioproductive potential. It is clear, in particular, through the formation of a continuous berry bush cover and its high resistance to cold. A sustainable cultivated phytocenosis forms. It protects a peat substrate from fires, water and wind erosions, and has a high level of positive dynamism of berry productivity during the whole period of record. It proves the appropriateness of the ecological-biological type of the species to the extreme weather and ecological conditions of the experiment. However, lowbush blueberry needs an optimization of mineral nutrition. The implementation of this condition is a guaranty of successful introduction of the plant on the cutover raised-bog peatlands in the North of Belarus.