Impact of Water and Nutrient Supplementation on Yield of Prairie Plantings of Juneberry Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., Cultivar and Windbreak Plantings

Abstract

Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. (Juneberry, Saskatoon berry or Serviceberry) fruit historically played an important role as fresh or dried food and as a medicinal staple in the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribal Nations. Natural Juneberry stands were lost during the creation of Sakakawea Reservoir on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Reintroduction of the Juneberry is important to the tribal communities. Therefore, the impact of water and fertilizer supplementation was explored in two mature Juneberry cultivar (Honeywood, Martin, and Smokey) plantings and a seedling windbreak planting. Yield was examined in three consecutive years with three treatments: (1) natural conditions (control; no additional water or fertilizer); (2) irrigation during flowering and fruit ripening period (irrigated); and (3) fertilization plus irrigation during flowering and fruit ripening period (fertilized). Yield varied from 5 to 258 g/0.03 m−3 across locations, treatments, and years. There was no difference in yield across locations and treatments in year one. Yield was greater in the second year than first year, but not different across locations or treatments. The fertilized treatment showed increased yield in the third year in contrast to irrigated treatment across locations. New plantings can be established more economically using seedling material and the yield increased if watered and fertilized during fruit development.