INFLUENCE OF FOLIAR NUTRIENT ON FRUIT YIELD AND QUALITY IN BLUERAY CV.

Abstract

The blueberry cultivation was started in Europe in 1928, but this culture has developed as industry in the last 20 years. The researches were developed in two directions: the first one was to obtain new varieties and the second one to find the best technical management. The researches were done by different authors (B. Kozinski., 2004, Mladin P, 2007).During the 2003 – 2006 period at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti some experiments with bioregulators and foliar nutrients in blueberry have been conducted. The aim of this study was to improving fruit yield and quality. So, different bioregulators and foliar nutrients were applied yearly in a 20-year old highbush blueberry plantation with 2.5 m x 1.0 m spacing. Experimental factors were used: A-cultivar Blueray and B – foliar treatments with the following graduation: b1 – Control (untreated); b2 - Kendal 0.25%; b3 – Enpro 0.1%; b4-Megafol 0.3% + Nutrinaft D 0.5% + Kendal 0.25%; b5-Microfert U 0.5% and b6-Microfert U 1.0%. These products were yearly applied on the same plants. The experimental design was linear, with 10 bushes for each treatment in 3 replications. The sprays were manually applied using 2000 L solution per ha, yearly at the following moments: 1) before blooming, 2) at the end of blooming, 3) 14 days after the end of blooming and 4) 14 days after the third moment. The experimental data were statistically processed using ANOVA-method. The effect of foliar treatments using nutrients and bioregulators are presented in figure 1. The data show a good effect of products application on berry weight. In the case of ‘Blueray’ cv. the best results was obtained in trials treated with foliar nutrients and bio-regulators too (T4) 2,16g versus 1,16g/berry in untrated plot. These treatments also induced more colored and firm fruits.