"Austin" and "Climax" rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) grown on two soil types in Columbia, AL were studied during 2009-2010 to evaluate the effect of soil quality on blueberry vegetative growth, yield, a..."Austin" and "Climax" rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) grown on two soil types in Columbia, AL were studied during 2009-2010 to evaluate the effect of soil quality on blueberry vegetative growth, yield, and fruit characteristics. The site previously used for peanut production had 2% organic matter, a high soil pH, and a high phosphorus level, while the site previously left to pasture had twice as much organic matter, lower pH and phosphorus. Both cultivars had greater fruit set when grown on pasture land in comparison to the same cultivars grown on old crop land. Pasture land grown "Austin" and "Climax" plants produced as much as three times greater yields than the same cultivars grown on old crop land, and were more vigorous in comparison with plants grown on old crop land. Higher plant vigor and yields may be a result of the alleviation of establishment stress provided by the higher organic content found on the pasture land soil. Proper soil amendment prior to planting may serve to improve some of the differences in rabbiteye blueberry plant performance during the years of establishment.展开更多
文摘"Austin" and "Climax" rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) grown on two soil types in Columbia, AL were studied during 2009-2010 to evaluate the effect of soil quality on blueberry vegetative growth, yield, and fruit characteristics. The site previously used for peanut production had 2% organic matter, a high soil pH, and a high phosphorus level, while the site previously left to pasture had twice as much organic matter, lower pH and phosphorus. Both cultivars had greater fruit set when grown on pasture land in comparison to the same cultivars grown on old crop land. Pasture land grown "Austin" and "Climax" plants produced as much as three times greater yields than the same cultivars grown on old crop land, and were more vigorous in comparison with plants grown on old crop land. Higher plant vigor and yields may be a result of the alleviation of establishment stress provided by the higher organic content found on the pasture land soil. Proper soil amendment prior to planting may serve to improve some of the differences in rabbiteye blueberry plant performance during the years of establishment.