home    about    browse    search    latest    help 
Login | Create Account

New Approaches to Organic Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Production in Alkaline Field Soils

Schmid, Andi; Suter, Francisco; Weibel, Franco and Daniel, Claudia (2009) New Approaches to Organic Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Production in Alkaline Field Soils. European Journal of Horticultural Science, 74 (3), pp. 103-111.

[thumbnail of Artikel] PDF - English (Artikel)
Limited to [Depositor and staff only]

417kB

Document available online at: http://www.ulmer.de/QUlEPTEwMzQyMjMmTUlEPTE0NTg.html


Summary

Production of Vaccinium corymbosum L. is limited to acidic soils with high organic matter content. This specific soil requirement is limiting the possibilities to cultivate V. corymbosum L. in many regions of Central Europe. The aim of this study was to overcome the limiting production factors occurring under the soil and climate conditions of Switzerland: (1) evaluation of natural growing substrates without peat as required for organic production; (2) adjustment of the optimal pH in the growing substrate; (3) regulation of water issues (water quality and mulching) and (4) development of a suited planting system.
Pine sawdust was evaluated to be the best alternative growing substrate compared to peat moss. Optimal pH adjustment in pine sawdust substrate was found to be 3.8 (CaCl2) and 4.2 (H22O). In field cultivation, an amount of 30 g S year-1 plant-1 to lower the pH of the pine sawdust ditches was sufficient for good plant and yield development. This acidification resulted in better growth (+48 %) and higher yield (+55 %) when alkaline ground water (357 mg L-1 CaC03) was used for irrigation. Acidification with citric acid gave poor results. A mulch of pine bark on the sawdust ridge increased growth by 59 % and yield by 25 %. The newly developed flat ditch system with low sawdust ditches buried partly into the ground was as suitable as the standard planting system with deep ditches lined with plastic film. By integration and application of these new findings, a system for commercial organic blueberry production under Swiss conditions and on alkaline soils was developed.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:bark, citric acid, mulch, pH, sawdust, substrate, sulphur, Anbautechnik Pflanzenbau, Bioobstbau, Biobeeren-Heidelbeeren
Subjects: Soil > Soil quality > Soil biology
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Fruit and berries
Research affiliation: Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Crop protection > Entomology
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Special crops > Fruit
ISSN:1611-4426
Related Links:https://www.fibl.org/en/locations/switzerland/departments/crop-sciences/plant-protection-entomology-agroecology.html
Deposited By: Schmid, Andi
ID Code:17948
Deposited On:28 Oct 2010 11:43
Last Modified:09 Dec 2020 07:48
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics