ISHS Acta Horticulturae 810: IX International Vaccinium Symposium
EFFECT OF MULCHES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ORGANICALLY GROWN BLUEBERRIES IN GEORGIA |
| Authors: | G. Krewer, M. Tertuliano, P. Andersen, O. Liburd, G. Fonsah, H. Serri, B. Mullinix |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium ashei, Vaccinium virgatum |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.810.63 |
| Abstract:
A six year study was conducted to determine the effect of various mulches on the performance of organically grown ‘Brightwell’ rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade; syn. V. virgatum Ait.). Treatments were an unmulched control, plastic woven ground cover with 3 L (10 cm) of pine bark to seal the planting hole cut in the cover, pine straw (20 cm) and milled pine bark (10 cm). It was necessary to reapply pine straw in years three and six and reapply pine bark in year five. Plants were fertilized with various organic approved fertilizers as needed. Weeds were suppressed by use of various organic “burn down” compounds and hand pulling / hoeing. Only limited weed control was required with the mulch treatments in the first two years. Over time, the amount of hand weed control increased, especially as the ground cover treatment deteriorated and Bermuda grass appeared in the plots. Flea beetles required treatment in several years and gibberellic acid was used in 2007 following a freeze. Pine straw and pine bark treatments produced the largest plants and the highest yields, followed by ground cover and the unmulched control. With the pine straw and pine bark treatments, growth and yields were good and extrapolated yield ca. 7,500 kg / ha in years five and six. | |
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