Adaptability of blueberry species to various soil types: III. Final growth and tissue analyses

Abstract

Seedlings of five blueberry progenies were planted in a range of soils, with or without the addition of peat moss, in an outdoor pot study to examine the adaptability of blueberries to upland soil conditions. Blueberry progenies ranged from essentially pure highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) to interspecific hybrids containing varying amounts of evergreen (V. darrowi Camp), lowbush (V. angustifolium Aiton), black highbush (V. atrococcum Heller), and rabbiteye (V. ashei Reade) blueberry germplasm. Growth differences occurred due to soil types with Berryland sand producing the most growth although the effectiveness of peat moss diminshed with time. The three different complete fertilizer sources used had no significant effect on growth over the 3 years. Progenies displayed nutritional differences on the same scale as soils with a progeny containing V. corymbosum, V. darrowi V. atrococcum, and V. ashei growing best over all soils. Manganese was the only element to show consistent soil and progeny differences for leaves, roots and fruit. Levels of Mn and Al were generally higher in leaves and fruit than in the roots.