USE OF WINDBREAKS IN LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY (VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM AIT.) PRODUCTION

Abstract

Windbreaks have long been used to reduce wind travel over crops and therefore, reduce mechanical stress, increase crop yield, reduce evaporation, and decrease water use. The objectives of this investigation were to acquire a fundamental understanding of both the microclimatic changes brought about by windbreaks, and the manner in which these changes are translated into growth, development, and yield of wild blueberries. The experiment was conducted at three locations in Nova Scotia (Earltown, Fox Point, and West Brook NS), and three treatments were used at all sites. The wind shelter treatments used consisted of (1) exposed plants, (2) plants that were encircled by a 50% permeable, wooden lath shelter, and (3) plants that were encircled with a wooden lath shelter and covered prior to winter with a floating row cover which was removed prior to bloom the following spring. The shelter treatments had a significant effect on microclimate especially snow cover and ground level temperatures during the winter. This coincided with reduced winter floral bud damage, and greater stem weights, berry number, and harvestable yields (g·m-2) compared to plants that were exposed. Natural windbreaks were also observed to have a beneficial effect on yield with harvested yield decreased at a linear rate from the windbreak [i.e., y = 353 – 4.25 x, where y = harvestable yield (g×m-2) and x is the distance from the windbreak)]. These results indicate that wind shelters can reduce floral bud winter injury and increase the vegetative growth and yield of lowbush blueberries.